The increasing of role of paramedical personnel under application of remote ultrasound studies

Abstract

The ultrasound studies are highly informative diagnostic methods. The modern ultrasound devices can be applied as component of mobile telemedicine systems that can significantly increase availability of medical care. However, application of ultrasound scanners requires inclusion of ultrasound diagnostics specialist in the medical team that is not always nor possible or appropriate. In the modern regulatory legal base, transfer of certain functions of ultrasound diagnostics specialist to average medical staff is not provided. The article considers issue of genuine development and testing method of implementation of ultrasound examinations by paramedical personnel under remote control of physician. Two organizational models were tested within the framework of organizational experiment. In the first model, physician monitored progress of examination by telemedicine monitor and, if necessary, directed actions of medical nurse. In the second model, the nurse independently obtained images of patients' organs, and physician according received visual information formulated final conclusion. The organizational experiment included patients with pathology of abdominal cavity, retroperitoneal space and lower limb arteries. Results. On the basis on results of 156 examinations, time-consuming analysis was performed, and effectiveness of developed methods was evaluated. The proposals were proposed to include additions into professional standard of ultrasound diagnostics nurse and to substantiate the need of altering the training programs for paramedical personnel.