Surrey Memorial Hospital is building a centre of excellence in neonatal care in Fraser Health. Read on to learn about the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Program and how it is advancing neonatal care in our region.
(Photo) Dr. Samer Yousfi, a Surrey Memorial Hospital neonatologist, and regional division head of Neonatology
In 2023, Surrey Memorial Hospital became one of the first hospitals in B.C. to use point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). POCUS refers to portable ultrasound imaging that is used by clinicians for diagnostic, procedural and therapeutic purposes.
Being able to assess a newborn or baby under 28 days old (neonate) at bedside using POCUS has many benefits. For example, it minimizes the need to move the patient, helps in evaluating lung tissue and provides guidance for adjusting respiratory support. Clinicians use POCUS rather than X-ray to position central lines and to guide certain procedures such as lumbar puncture.
“There is no doubt that POCUS is advancing and improving neonatal care,” says Dr. Samer Yousfi, a Surrey Memorial Hospital neonatologist, regional division head of Neonatology. “There has been a significant reduction in X-rays ordered in the NICU since clinicians completed training on POCUS.”
Unlike conventional X-ray, POCUS does not use radiation.
(Photo) Dr. Yasser Elsayed, a Surrey Memorial Hospital neonatologist
“POCUS also gives us the ability to provide more timely assessment,” says Dr. Yasser Elsayed, another Surrey Memorial Hospital neonatologist. “We can see early on what’s going on inside the infant’s body and this can help us with diagnosis of multi-organ compromised physiology, leading to earlier treatment and potentially, better outcomes.”
Dr. Elsayed was instrumental in implementing the POCUS program at Surrey Memorial Hospital and is a co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society guidelines for pediatric POCUS. A recent research paper that he co-authored concludes that POCUS can help health care providers to stay abreast of the most-current advances in medicine and provide the safest, most-efficient, state-of-the-art care.
(Photo) Left to right: Esther Pang-Wong, project and operations director, MICY, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Barb Black, director, Clinical Operations, MICY, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Trish Tinkham, director of clinical operations, MICY, Surrey Memorial Hospital
“We’re building a centre of excellence in neonatal care in Fraser Health,” says Esther Pang-Wong, project and operations director, Maternal, Infant, Child and Youth Program, Surrey Memorial Hospital. “I am really proud to be part of the team advancing neonatal care in our region.”
A recent conference funded by the Surrey Hospitals Foundation brought together nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, allied health and other health care providers from across the region to discuss the use of point-of-care ultrasound in neonatal intensive care units and other advances in neonatal care.
Generous donors funded the POCUS system, as well as Near Infrared Spectroscopy, an advanced monitoring system for high-risk babies.
“This is a great example of how investing in innovation and equipping our experts with the right tools leads to better patient experiences and outcomes,” says Nicole Robson, President and CEO of Surrey Hospitals Foundation. “Our neonatal team at Surrey Memorial is leading the way in providing the safest, most advanced care for pre-term and very pre-term infants. Beyond our site, they are committed to expanding this expertise across Fraser Health, ensuring more teams are equipped with these critical skills. The Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help share knowledge and elevate care across the region.”
