Bedside ultrasound, also known as point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), is a critical tool for rapid assessment and triage in the emergency department (ED). But without the right infrastructure, the diagnostic value of emergency ultrasound exams can be undermined by inefficient workflows, lost documentation, or missed billing opportunities.
In this fast-paced, high-pressure environment, a modern, connected ultrasound reporting platform can make a difference. ViewPoint™ 6 simplifies emergency ultrasound documentation, ensures exam data is captured accurately, and integrates findings into the medical record–all without adding administrative burden for busy clinicians.
Saving exams that drive critical decisions
POCUS is often an ED clinician’s first diagnostic step. In a panel on POCUS workflow at the 2025 HIMSS conference, Dr. Sean Kelly, a practicing ER physician and Chief Medical Officer at Imprivata, explained, “In the busy ER, there might be a trauma resuscitation and a lot rides on that ultrasound…. one of the big parts of the workup is to do that bedside ultrasound really quickly.”
Despite the vital role these scans play in patient triage and care planning, it is common for them to go undocumented1. A scan that isn’t saved to the EHR, linked to the visit, or tied to the right billing code becomes a “phantom scan.” These undocumented exams compromise the completeness of the medical record and represent a significant source of revenue loss. One estimate suggests that up to 77% of ED POCUS exams go unbilled2, costing some health systems more than $3 million annually3.
These gaps aren’t caused by neglect. “Your head's all about the clinical care. You want to make sure there's accountability and maybe even need to bill for it. But that kind of goes by the wayside,” Dr. Kelly said when reflecting on why documentation for a focused ultrasound assessment during trauma resuscitation may be skipped.
ViewPoint 6 enables accurate, real-time exam documentation at the point of care. Clinicians can document findings directly on Venue™ family systems or use ViewPoint 6 MobileConnect, a browser-based tool that supports documentation from any mobile device. Whether performed with a Vscan™ Air handheld or a cart-based scanner, exams are captured quickly and reliably, then sent to the EMR and PACS through ViewPoint 6. And they remain available in ViewPoint 6 for quality assurance, archiving of educational exams, and billing support.
POCUS documentation aligned with ACEP guidelines
A recent enhancement makes ViewPoint 6 even more relevant for emergency medicine teams: its reporting templates now align with the full set of POCUS exam types defined by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). These templates can be adjusted to fit an individual hospital’s needs while promoting standardized, guideline-compliant reporting across a wide range of emergency ultrasound applications—from gallbladder evaluations and cardiac assessments to trauma protocols and lung imaging.
Clinicians use ViewPoint 6 MobileConnect to document emergency ultrasound and POCUS exams in real time—helping ensure findings are saved, billed, and accessible
Fewer clicks, more clarity
Documentation doesn’t have to be a distraction from patient care. A timing study found that using ViewPoint 6 reduced documentation time by up to 79%4. That means clinicians can spend less time at the workstation and more time with patients.
The user interface is designed with simplicity in mind: smart defaults, one-click entry of common findings, and encounter-based imaging workflows (EBIW) help make emergency ultrasound documentation as efficient as possible. Unlike traditional systems that require prior imaging orders, EBIW enables clinicians to document studies in real time—without interrupting care delivery or jumping through administrative hoops.
Support for mixed fleets and mobile workflows
Ultrasound systems like the Venue family with on-board reporting capabilities can quickly and tightly link documentation to an exam for optimal reporting compliance. But many EDs operate with a mix of ultrasound systems from different vendors. ViewPoint 6 accommodates that reality, offering vendor-neutral support that helps unify reporting and image archiving across devices. Whether your team is using handheld ultrasound in the trauma bay or cart-based systems in a resuscitation room, documentation stays consistent and accessible.
MobileConnect extends that support beyond the scanner. By allowing reporting from smartphones and tablets, it enables clinicians to complete documentation while still at the bedside—preserving findings, avoiding lost records, and speeding up the next step in care.
From emergency ultrasound scan to reimbursement
When emergency ultrasound exams are left undocumented, they can’t support clinical decisions, quality improvement, or reimbursement. ViewPoint 6 helps close that gap. Every scan is captured, every report is available for review, and every exam becomes part of a comprehensive, billable patient history.
For ED teams facing tight resources, this kind of infrastructure offers a practical way to strengthen clinical insights, reduce variability, and ensure critical exams don’t go unnoticed. With ACEP-aligned templates, vendor-neutral flexibility, and mobile-enabled workflows, ViewPoint 6 is built to meet the demands of modern emergency care.
Ready to take your emergency ultrasound documentation even further? Explore ViewPoint 6 MobileConnect and discover how mobility can streamline your POCUS workflows.
REFERENCES
1. Larissa van Essen et al, “Quality Assessment of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Reports for Patients at the Emergency Department Treated by Internists,” The Ultrasound Journal 14, no. 15 (2022)
2. Stephen Alerhand et. al., Attrition in emergency department point-of-care ultrasound workflow adherence for the evaluation of cutaneous abscesses, JHNHP 2020
3. Based on GE HealthCare Ultrasound Healthcheck Data
4. Data from GE HealthCare internal timing study (https://gehealthcare.showpad.com/share/h57eBWyBpg1jqsnu64kap)
ViewPoint and Vscan are trademarks of GE HealthCare.
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