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Where do you see ultrasound being useful in the routine assessment? As a tool to rule in or out certain differentials, sure (like the examples you gave above), but I don't see the case for routine use in the GP's office.

I think "pocket" ultrasound will be (and is being) adopted by EMS well before it makes inroads in primary care.

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Agreed, it’s better for acute complaints instead of routine physical exams. If a patient with COPD or CHF comes into your primary care office with a little cough, then you could enhance your bedside workup with a quick cardiac and pulmonary ultrasound. You could see if they have pleural effusions, pulmonary edema, consolidations, and make an informal assessment of their ejection fraction. This info takes about two minutes to acquire, and helps you rule-out dangerous diagnosis.

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