Remote tele-mentored ultrasound for non-physician learners using FaceTime: A feasibility study in a low-income country
Abstract
Purpose Ultrasound (US) is a burgeoning diagnostic tool and is often the only available imaging modality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, bedside providers often lack training to acquire or interpret US images. We conducted a study to determine if a remote tele-intensivist could mentor geographically removed LMIC providers to obtain quality and clinically useful US images.Materials and methods Nine Haitian non-physician health care workers received a 20-minute training on basic US techniques. A volunteer was connected to an intensivist located in the USA via FaceTime. The intensivist remotely instructed the non-physicians to ultrasound five anatomic sites. The tele-intensivist evaluated the image quality and clinical utility of performing tele-ultrasound in a LMIC.Results The intensivist agreed (defined as "agree" or "strongly agree" on a five-point Likert scale) that 90% (57/63) of the FaceTime images were high quality. The intensivist felt comfortable making clinical decisions using FaceTime images 89% (56/63) of the time.Conclusions Non-physicians can feasibly obtain high-quality and clinically relevant US images using video chat software in LMICs. Commercially available software can connect providers in institutions in LMICs to geographically removed intensivists at a relatively low cost and without the need for extensive training of local providers.
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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 [20]
Several studies on the topic of tele-ultrasound in resource-limited settings were not included because they did not report a patient care intervention or meaningful clinical outcomes.
“Several studies on the topic of tele-ultrasound in resource-limited settings were not included because they did not report a patient care intervention or meaningful clinical outcomes (20, 57–60).”
From Tele-Ultrasound in Resource-Limited Settings: A Systematic Review (2019) · cites this paper as [20]
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Tele-Ultrasound in Resource-Limited Settings: A Systematic Review
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- Authors
- Robertson, T. E., Levine, A. R., Verceles, A. C., Buchner, J. A., Lantry, J. H., Papali, A., Zubrow, M. T., Colas, L. N., Augustin, M. E., & McCurdy, M. T.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (US)
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
- Corresponding author
- McCurdy, Michael T.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Critical Care
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 40
- Pages
- 145-148
- ISSN
- 0883-9441 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2604225239
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 4.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Critical Care (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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 › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Global Health and Surgery
- Keywords
- tele-ultrasound, online mentoring, FaceTime, videoconferencing, image quality, clinical utility, low- and middle-income countries, Haiti, critical care ultrasound, feasibility
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Feasibility Studies, Female, Haiti, Health Personnel, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Poverty, Software, Ultrasonography, Telemedicine, Point-of-Care Systems, Education, Distance, Young Adult, Social Media
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