AmbuEcho: Use of Point of Care Echocardiography in Acute Ambulatory Care

Study Purpose

The ultrasound scan is a routine test in hospitals that uses sound waves to build up pictures of what is happening inside the body. Detailed ultrasound scans performed by experienced operators have been previously shown to be a very useful tool to identify potential causes of shortness of breath in outpatient clinics. However, they are not routinely used in some areas of the hospital such as the Ambulatory Assessment Unit.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether a simple ultrasound examination of the heart (called an echocardiogram or ECHO) and lungs might be used for patients admitted to the Ambulatory Assessment Unit with shortness of breath. Specifically, this study will try to establish whether an ultrasound scan is an efficient method to help clinicians - possibly even through the development of an automated interpretation process – to diagnose diseases that are responsible for heart and lung problems in patients.

We hope that this study will show that an ultrasound scan of the heart and lungs is a valuable diagnostic tool that could be used in patients when they first arrive in hospital.