Bedside ultrasound (BUS) in Internal Medicine (IM): cost-effectiveness of USB-probe-tablet echoscopy at admission for patient allocation according to low or high level of care

Purpose: To verify the cost-effectiveness of USB-probe-tablet echoscopy with respect to standard handheld ultrasound machines (HUS) for patient allocation in areas with different level of care. Material and methods: In April 2013 we started a sixth months prospective survey to assess the impact of bedside ultrasound performed by internists on the appropriateness of allocation and outcome of patients admitted to Internal Medicine A (1400 admissions/year). As simple USB-probe-tablet devices are on the ultrasound market we decide to perform a second study along with the former, comparing the diagnostic and cost-eff…