AAA Diagnosis at the Bedside: How Primary Care Can Use POCUS for Life-Saving Screening

In this episode, Tatiana Havryliuk, MD, and Randy Glick, BSB/PM, MCP explore how point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) enables primary care providers to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) during routine office visits. A real-world case highlights how a brief scan identified a large aneurysm in a patient who might not have followed through with imaging. They cover scanning technique, diagnostic criteria, and the strong evidence supporting this quick, high-value application of POCUS. This discussion shows how integrating POCUS into preventive care can streamline workflows and save lives—especially in underserved settings.

Dr. Tatiana Havryliuk is an emergency physician and founder of Hello Sono. With 15 years of experience using POCUS in diverse settings, from urban EDs to Everest Base Camp, she is dedicated to extending its benefits to more patients. With Hello Sono, she and her team support practices in building compliant, high-quality, and profitable POCUS programs through tailored education and implementation. 

Link to an AAA screening article by Dr. Havryliuk: https://sma.org/real-time-screening-for-aaa-pocus-helps-bridge-the-preventive-care-gap/