Ultrasound images transmitted via FaceTime are non-inferior to images on the ultrasound machine
Abstract
Purpose Remote telementored ultrasound (RTMUS) systems can deliver ultrasound (US) expertise to regions lacking highly trained bedside ultrasonographers and US interpreters. To date, no studies have evaluated the quality and clinical utility of US images transmitted using commercially available RTMUS systems.Methods This prospective pilot evaluated the quality of US images (right internal jugular vein, lung apices and bases, cardiac subxiphoid view, bladder) obtained using a commercially available iPad operating FaceTime software. A bedside non-physician obtained images and a tele-intensivist interpreted them. All US screen images were simultaneously saved on the US machine and captured via a FaceTime screen shot. The tele-intensivist and an independent US expert rated image quality and utility in guiding clinical decisions.Results The tele-intensivist rated FaceTime images as high quality (90% [69/77]) and could comfortably make clinical decisions using these images (96% [74/77]). Image quality did not differ between FaceTime and US images (97% (75/77). Strong inter-rater reliability existed between tele-intensivist and US expert evaluations (Spearman's rho 0.43; P<.001).Conclusion An RTMUS system using commercially available two-way audiovisual technology can transmit US images without quality degradation. For most anatomic sites assessed, US images acquired using FaceTime are not inferior to those obtained directly with the US machine.
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Based on research not included in this systematic review, synchronous RTMUS can be successfully performed with <60 min of training.
“Based on research not included in this systematic review, synchronous RTMUS can be successfully performed with <60 min of training (20, 21, 45, 46).”
From Tele-Ultrasound in Resource-Limited Settings: A Systematic Review (2019) · cites this paper as [21]
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- Authors
- Levine, A. R., Buchner, J. A., Verceles, A. C., Zubrow, M. T., Mallemat, H. A., Papali, A., & McCurdy, M. T.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- Corresponding author
- McCurdy, Michael T.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Critical Care
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-06
- Volume
- 33
- Pages
- 51-55
- ISSN
- 0883-9441 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2281991849
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 5.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Critical Care (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Ultrasound in Clinical Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Radiology practices and education
- Keywords
- FaceTime, ultrasound image quality, telemedicine, point-of-care ultrasound, image transmission, inter-rater reliability, right internal jugular vein, bladder ultrasound
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Urinary Bladder, Critical Care, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Jugular Veins, Lung, Male, Pilot Projects, Prospective Studies, Telecommunications, Ultrasonography, Reproducibility of Results, Telemedicine, Computers, Handheld, Mobile Applications, Healthy Volunteers
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