Hospice takes care to patients’ homes with portable ultrasound

Dr Fiona Bailey with a NanoMaxx system.

Woking and Sam Beare Hospices in Surrey have invested in a SonoSite NanoMaxx point-of-care ultrasound system to enhance palliative care services for its patients.  Medical director and consultant in palliative medicine Dr Fiona Bailey said: “We have used ultrasound for a number of years and find it very beneficial, particularly for abdominal investigations. Diagnosis is easier, and it enables us to perform treatments such as the insertion of an ascitic drain in a safe and efficient manner.”

The hospices purchased the NanoMaxx to replace an older instrument and users have found the touch screen operation and preprogramed settings make the system user friendly. “The image quality is a big improvement on our previous instrument,” said Dr Bailey. “As a hospice, our role is to treat patients wherever they are. Many of our patients are quite frail, and the NanoMaxx’s small size, portability and robustness are a particular benefit.”

See the full report on page 16 of the August 2014 issue of RAD Magazine.