HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiami Beach Fire Department Implements Mobile Ultrasound We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 Press Release
Melissa Berthier, melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov Lissi Hernandez, lissihernandez@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2025 Miami Beach Fire Department Implements Mobile Ultrasound
— Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) will provide on-scene ultrasound imaging — Miami Beach, FL – The Miami Beach Fire Department has taken another step in advancing pre-hospital emergency care with the introduction of a Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) device. With this mobile ultrasound technology, it will allow the department to further assist patients before they reach the hospital.
The POCUS device enables firefighters to perform real-time ultrasound examinations during life-threatening emergency calls, particularly in the case of cardiac arrests and serious trauma
injuries, providing critical imaging of a patient on the spot. The device will be kept in the Emergency Medical Services shift captain’s vehicle. This will allow the device to be shared by multiple units and shifts. With this initiative, Miami Beach becomes the first fire department in
Miami-Dade County to successfully implement mobile ultrasound technology in the field. To ensure the effective use of POCUS, Miami Beach Fire personnel received hands-on training from Dr. Benjamin Abo, a renowned EMS and emergency physician, toxicologist and medical director in Florida. "Advancing our pre-hospital care is a priority for our department," said Fire Chief Digna Abello. "With the addition of POCUS, we can provide life-saving imaging for patients, allowing the opportunity to make critical interventions in real time." The ability to assess patients at the scene allows firefighters to determine whether a patient is
responding to treatment and how serious their condition may be. This can guide medical decisions, increasing the effectiveness of aid before arriving at a hospital. ###
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