As I sit back and reflect on my first six months in the ultrasound community, I cannot help but think that we are in the middle of a healthcare revolution.  Sound a bit extreme?  Well, maybe.  However, everywhere I turn I see more and more signs that ultrasound technologies are supporting a wider array of healthcare applications.  When I tell my friends and family that I work for a company that makes ultrasound products, I usually get asked, “the equipment that scans a pregnant mom’s tummy for baby images?”  This is what I mostly thought of too before I joined the industry.  Today, now that I am in the trenches, I see ultrasound providing invaluable healthcare data to a fast-growing number of medical professionals supporting a diverse spectrum of healthcare applications, including but not limited to:

Abdominal, Cardiology, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Family Practice, Musculoskeletal, Nephrology, OB/GYN, Orthopedic, Pediatrics, Phlebology, Podiatry, Urology, Vascular, Women’s Health

Now, you might be asking yourself, as I did, why does this matter?  Well, it may not matter today or tomorrow, but it sure will in the coming months and years.  Advances in technology have allowed ultrasound to produce incredibly detailed anatomical images within seconds at almost any patient location imaginable, allowing trained medical providers the ability to quickly see what is going on inside of the body, diagnose, and make recommendations for the appropriate care.

In addition, I am amazed at how social media has seemingly transformed the ultrasound community overnight.  A few of my favorite examples include, Free Open Access Medical Ultrasound (#FOAMUS) and Point-of-Care Ultrasound (#POCUS) both of which on twitter share a wealth of ultrasound learnings to the masses for free; engaging podcasts and blogs (@5MinSono) which in five-minute video clips show you just how interesting and effective ultrasound can be; and to organizations like AIUM (@AIUM_Ultrasound), EMSPOCUS (@emspocus) and Ultrasound Training (@UTS_Australia) who help organize, sponsor and host engaging and fun ultrasound training and learning opportunities in beautiful locations throughout the world.

It is likely that during the next six months (or six years) you, or someone you know, will be the beneficiary of an ultrasound scan, be it for preventative, acute, or post-operative care.

Excited to see, if in fact, ultrasound is the next revolution in healthcare!

Agree?  Disagree?  Would love to hear what you think.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below or contact me online.