The study involved 100 patients and was conducted using Sonosite’s M-Turbo® ultrasound systems.

The results showed that in 85 of 100 cases (85%) USGPIVs eliminated the need for CVC placement in patients with problematic IV access. These patients also had zero complications during the follow-up period.3 When you consider an approximate 15% complication rate for CVC procedures, the use of USGPIVs could lower rates to 2.25%. With the cost of each CVC complication ranging from approximately $15,000 to $50,000, greater use of USGPIVs can mean enhanced patient safety and a significant reduction in emergency department healthcare costs.

Saint Mary’s Hospital, an acute care community teaching hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut demonstrated the clinical and financial benefits of an ERAS program that includes ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (USGRA). Since the October 2015 launch of the opioid-sparing ERAS program, Saint Mary’s has seen striking improvements in the safety and quality of care for patients undergoing colorectal surgery, along with substantial reductions in opioid usage. 

St. Joseph’s has the second-busiest Emergency Department in the United States, seeing 175,000 patients in 2016. St. Joseph’s Emergency Department launched the ALTOSM (ALTernatives to Opioids) Program in January 2016.

The program uses targeted non-opioid medications, trigger point injections, nitrous oxide, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, and even meditation, to help ease pain in patients with acute injuries like broken bones, and ongoing issues like migraine headaches.