SonoSite has announced the release of SonoAccess, the first application for iPhone and iPod touch from an ultrasound company that provides a multimedia library of ultrasound resource materials for medical professionals. With 28 instructional ultrasound videos and 17 video case studies, the SonoAccess application is one of the largest free resources of instructional videos for point-of-care ultrasound and is available for free download on the iTunes App Store.

With this announcement, SonoSite also confirmed that it had partnered with leading physicians to gather and create clinical education materials for emergency medicine, critical care and anesthesia. Other specialties are to be added soon, according to the company.

Currently, users of SonoAccess are able to access high-quality instructional videos, case studies and reimbursement guides, as well as reference nearly 100 clinical images and news feeds on SonoSite. The app also lets them customize their user profiles to generate recommended lists of videos specific to their practice. Videos can be shared, just like case studies and images.

“Physicians need practical tutorials on ultrasound procedures,” Dr. David Auyong, anesthesiologist, Seattle, WA, says. “There are not a lot of resources that give simple, practical tips on how to optimize the position of the probe or position the patient. Having a resource for continuing education available 24/7 like this will be helpful.”

SonoSite also mentions that Dr. Phillips Perera, MD, FACEP, RDMS, Emergency Ultrasound program director at Columbia University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, NY, believes many of the faculty students and residents have either an iPhone or iPod touch. He also stresses that many will likely find the SonoAccess application very helpful, as he has already found it to be useful when teaching residents.

“We have learned that using video works very well for teaching ultrasound—you don’t get the same impact from textbooks. I can use SonoAccess even while teaching a resident to perform an ultrasound exam at the bedside by propping up the iPhone next to the bed and pointing out on an image ‘this is the heart chamber you are looking for,’ for example,” Dr. Perera shares. “The portability of SonoAccess matched with the short, bullet point education modules make this a great fit for the busy lifestyle of emergency physicians and residents,” Dr. Perera adds.

According to the same report, the release of SonoAccess marks SonoSite’s second education initiative with Apple, following the company’s introduction of video refresher courses for the iPod in 2006.

Download SonoAccess via iTunes (Free)