Is point-of-care ultrasound disruptive innovation? Formulating why POCUS is different from conventional comprehensive ultrasound

• Published in: Critical ultrasound journal Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 25 - 5
• Main Authors: Weile, Jesper, Brix, Jacob, Moellekaer, Anders Broens
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milan Springer Milan 01.10.2018; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Critical Care Medicine; Diagnostic Radiology; Disruption; Disruptive innovation; Emergency medical services; Emergency Medicine; Imaging; Innovations; Intensive; Interventional Radiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Physician patient relationships; Point of care testing; Point-of-care ultrasound; Radiology; Short Communication; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound; Disruptive innovation; Point-of-care ultrasound; Disruption; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 2036-3176; 2036-7902; 2524-8987
• DOI: 10.1186/s13089-018-0106-3

Background Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) is spreading throughout Emergency Medicine, Critical Care and Pre-hospital Care. However, there is an underlying inherited conflict with the established specialties performing comprehensive examinations. It has been stated that PoCUS is disruptive innovation. If this is true the definition might open up for a new perspective on differentiating comprehensive ultrasound from PoCUS. PoCUS in the light of disruptive innovation is a different perspective on ultrasound that has not before been academically scrutinized. Methods In this paper we investigate if PoCUS is in fact disruptive innovation. This is done by comparative analysis with the point of departure in disruptive innovation theory known from the business world. Results We find that a disruptive innovation process is happening. This new knowledge allows us to put forward advice for the stakeholders in the field of ultrasound. It also allows us to challenge the conventional pyramid of expertise used to describe different types of ultrasound. The perspective of this paper is mutual understanding of similarities and differences between conventional and point-of-care ultrasound. Only with this understanding the stakeholders can collaborate and use the full spectrum of ultrasound for the benefit of the patient.