Learn the Benefits of Having a Sonographer on Your Team

Having access to diagnostic sonography can benefit everyone in the medical ecosystem, from provider to patient. Statistics show diagnostic sonography provides advantages in a variety of patient circumstances ranging from pregnancy to cardiovascular events.

Ultrasound can help diagnose many potentially fatal conditions in pregnancy, allow early intervention, and in many cases, prevent death. Studies show that it is particularly vital for women in rural areas or those with limited access to services, be able to have diagnostic measures like those provided by ultrasound, to forestall outcomes preventable with early intervention.

Sonography is also valuable for detecting cardiovascular irregularities like valve disease and carotid disease in roughly 5% to 20% of the population. Early detection can have a dramatic impact on illness prevention and treatment.

For several reasons, the services of a sonographer are an essential component of client care.

Access. Not all patients have easy access to a clinic. Even when a clinic is accessible, if a patient is referred out for a specialty exam, they may not have the ability to follow through. In rural clinics, having a sonographer available to patients at your location takes a step out of the process and makes care accessible. 

Continuity. There are benefits to having skilled sonographers on-site even if your clinic and patients are in the middle of a bustling metropolis, and access isn’t an issue. Patients see someone in a familiar office, you solidify your relationship with them, and you are much less likely to experience miscommunication. Patients can have a consistently stable and pleasant experience, and they will associate it with your office.

Expediency. The ability to provide diagnostic sonography to patients who need it quickly is the biggest benefit of partnering with a sonography team. If you have the means to diagnose problems within a reasonable time frame, you can impart information to patients quickly, and address issues as soon as possible.

The quest to provide a high level of patient care is the driving force behind most practices, but profitability is always a factor. Improving the bottom line allows for more focus on providing quality care. Offering on-site ultrasound services is one way that many practice managers and physicians have found to address both sides of the issue.

A practice can retain revenue when patients are not referred off-site for ultrasound. It can be inconvenient for patients to need services at another location. A patient may experience a delay in treatment; it is possible to encounter confusion in billing and lag time between reading the results and reconnecting with the patient. Frequently patients forget or postpone scheduling appointments with a third party, especially those who are elderly or limited in transportation options.

Sonography as a First-Line Resource. The ability to quickly schedule sonography in your practice allows for easy utilization of the modality as a first-line resource. Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool with a lower risk of radiation than MRI, CT scan, etc., in addition to being more cost-efficient. If further imaging from other sources is necessary, you have given your patient a valuable start by providing first-line diagnostics that are safe and cost-conscious.

When you provide sonography services through your practice, insurance questions, such as co-pay information, are already determined, and you can discuss them with the patient at the visit. Office staff time is also minimized as it is not necessary to figure out insurance coverage for multiple providers.

Choosing your specific sonography providers is essential for ensuring a comprehensive array of services. The ability to diagnose general issues through abdominal, pelvic, thyroid, renal, soft tissue, and scrotal/testicular scans, as well as echocardiograms and vascular ultrasounds, offers broad-spectrum value for both your practice and your patients.

The Bottom Line and the Top Concern. Having a sonographer available for your patients through your practice is a fiscally sound move for keeping revenue potential in your system--and the bottom line is always going to be the bottom line. The top concern is providing value to patients and supplying a system of care that is expedient, accessible, and consistent. On-site sonography allows you to provide accurate information and expert diagnostics.

Find out how BB Imaging can give you more control over your operations, more adaptability in your practice, and most importantly time with our sonography services. Contact Heather@bbimaging.net

In Tech Open. (2011). The Role of Obstetric Ultrasound in Reducing Maternal and Perinatal Mortality. Retrieved from In Tech Open:  https://www.intechopen.com/books/ultrasound-imaging-medical-applications/the-role-of-obstetric-ultrasound-in-reducing-maternal-and-perinatal-mortality

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. (2018). Handheld Ultrasound to avert maternal and neonatal deaths in 2 regions of the Philippines: an iBuntis intervention study. Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774122/

Beckers Hospital Review. (2020). The Value of Onsite Anchillary Imaging. Retrieved from Beckers Hospital Review: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/the-value-of-onsite-ancillary-imaging.html