Point-of-care ultrasound has shifted bedside imaging from a specialist-only activity to a focused clinical skill used to answer immediate questions at the point of care. In South Africa, that matters because delays in access, patient transport, workflow bottlenecks, and uneven imaging availability are practical daily realities rather than abstract system issues.
South African data from emergency units in Tshwane found that POCUS use was similar in public and private settings, suggesting that its relevance is not limited to one sector. The same study found that the main barrier to use was lack of, or limited access to, training — a useful lesson for any practice considering handheld systems.
Handheld and wireless systems are most useful when the clinical question is focused: a quick lung assessment, a focused cardiac view set, a FAST-style trauma assessment, procedural guidance, bladder scanning, vascular access, or a targeted abdominal question. POCUS should be framed as hypothesis-driven bedside imaging rather than a replacement for comprehensive radiology.
For South African practices, responsible rollout should include more than device purchase alone. Training access, agreed scope of use, image capture or archiving where appropriate, documentation standards, and a clear referral pathway for scans that exceed bedside scope all matter.
POCUS is already relevant to South African practice. The real opportunity is not simply owning a portable scanner, but integrating focused ultrasound into bedside care in a way that is clinically useful, well governed, and sustainable.
Dr Yahya Docrat is an anaesthetist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, with clinical experience in perioperative medicine and point-of-care ultrasound applications in anaesthesia, emergency medicine and critical care.