Evaluation & optimization of echocardiogram use in the emergency department

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is an accessible, cost effective tool for the early identification of a wide range of cardiac and pulmonary conditions in the emergency department, where chest pain and shortness of breath are among the most common presenting complaints. While clinicians rely on history, physical examination, laboratory testing, and formal imaging to evaluate these patients, POCUS, particularly echocardiography (ECHO), serves as an additional, rapid diagnostic option. This project compared the number of ECHOs performed to overall POCUS utilization to assess how frequently ECHO is used in emergency care. We found a strong positive correlation between ECHO volume and total ultrasound volume (R = 0.93, p < 0.01). Across all months, ECHOs consistently represented 35 to 50 percent of total POCUS studies, indicating that ECHO remains a stable and well utilized component of ultrasound practice in the emergency department.