Integrating Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Emergency and Rehabilitation Settings: Radiological, Emergency and Nursing Perspectives from the Saudi Health System

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasound has emerged as a transformative diagnostic modality enabling real-time clinical decision-making at the patient bedside across diverse healthcare settings. This systematic review examines the integration of point-of-care ultrasound technology within emergency and rehabilitation contexts of the Saudi Arabian health system, with particular attention to radiological and nursing perspectives. A comprehensive literature search identified peer-reviewed publications addressing POCUS implementation, training frameworks, clinical applications, and interprofessional collaboration models. Analysis of 51 included studies revealed that point-of-care ultrasound enhances diagnostic accuracy, reduces time to treatment, and improves patient outcomes when implemented within structured governance frameworks. Radiologists contribute through protocol development, quality assurance, and competency verification while navigating evolving professional boundaries. Nurses and emergency medical services technicians expand clinical capabilities through focused ultrasound examinations supporting triage, procedural guidance, and therapeutic monitoring. Implementation barriers include training infrastructure limitations, equipment accessibility, credentialing ambiguities, and resistance stemming from traditional professional role definitions. The Saudi healthcare context presents unique challenges including workforce composition diversity, geographic resource disparities, and cultural considerations influencing technology adoption. Evidence supports phased implementation approaches emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration, standardized competency frameworks, and continuous quality improvement. This review synthesizes current knowledge and proposes recommendations for advancing point-of-care ultrasound integration to optimize emergency care delivery and rehabilitation outcomes within Saudi healthcare environments.