Pointofcare ultrasonography: A how to for the primary care provider

Portable ultrasound devices are increasingly used at the point of care in emergency departments and intensive care units by physicians seeking to safely guide procedures and rapidly answer focused clinical questions. The applications of this powerful tool also extend into the outpatient setting where it has the potential to clarify physical exam findings and rapidly expedite diagnostic workups, particularly in resource poor settings. With sophisticated pocketsized ultrasounds now readily available on the market this technology is more accessible to primary care providers than ever before. The following review highlights a few of the many applications of focused ultrasound for the primary care provider.