Point-of-care Ultrasound in Finland

This study has two aims.

1. Deep venous thrombosis is a common suspected medical condition. If it cannot be excluded clinically and using D-dimer, ultrasound examination is required. An option for traditional radiologist-performed ultrasound is a 2-point compression ultrasound (2-CUS). The safety of this technique is proven. However there does not exist any data on costs comparing traditional and 2-CUS pathways in primary health care. This study will evaluate the total cost of both pathways by conducting a cost-minimization analysis. It will also study the effect of a simple ultrasound education on the referrals to hospital due to suspected DVT. T

he study is performed in Saarikka Primary Care Public Utility, Saarijärvi, Finland. There are 15 general practitioners (GP) working. During year 2014, 2 of them were performing 2-CUS. 9 of the other GPs were trained during years 2015-2016 to perform a 2-CUS and hence 11 of 15 GPs are able to do 2-CUS in 2017.

This is a register study. Referrals to hospital in 2014 (pre-training) and 2017 (post-training) are examined and the difference is assumed to be because of training and new pathway. Based on population the expected number of referrals due to a suspected DVT should be approximately 100 annually and the expected number after intervention is 30. According to power analysis a reduction from 100 to 76 is statistically significant (p<0.05).

Hypothesis 1: Short education in ultrasound will reduce significantly referrals to hospital and save resources. 2. Length of stay (LOS) in emergency department (ED) is related to increased mortality, morbidity, prolonged hospital stay and probably patient satisfaction. LOS of patients with a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by an emergency physician (EP) will be compared to those that have a radiology performed ultrasound examination.