A multicenter study has found that ghost scans, or point-of-care ultrasounds (POCUS) performed without saving images, occur in nearly half of trauma cases, raising concerns about quality assurance and patient safety. Conducted across four Level 1 trauma centers from July 2021 to June 2023 with 6,078 trauma patients, the study revealed a ghost scanning rate of 49.8%, varying significantly from 21.1% to 93.2% at different hospitals. The likelihood of saving images was higher with positive findings. Researchers emphasize the need for improved clinician training, workflow optimization, and automated image capture systems to address the implications of ghost scans on liability and patient outcomes.
Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:02:26 GMT | European Medical Journal