How OHSU is building an enterprise framework for handheld ultrasound governance

Watch: Putting clinicians first – an enterprise framework for scaling handheld ultrasound

Major pain points in managing handheld ultrasound devices

As Teklehaimanot and his team evaluated OHSU’s environment, several enterprise-wide challenges emerged, each stemming from the current decentralized approach to handheld ultrasound governance. Top concerns included: 

• Decentralized procurement and onboarding – Handheld devices were entering the health system through a variety of channels with no consistent process for how they’re vetted or deployed. “Some of them are coming through the School of Medicine. Some of them are coming from the patient care areas. You know, some of them are probably captured through Amazon. I don't know, right?” said Teklehaimanot. Without a consistent intake process, key steps like security reviews and biomed inspections could be skipped. This lack of visibility creates risks in areas such as cybersecurity, equipment tracking, and version control.  
• A mixed fleet of devices – OHSU’s environment included an array of handheld ultrasound brands and models—often chosen based on individual preferences or use cases. While this diversity can benefit clinical flexibility, it complicates support, software updates, and workflow compatibility. Without a consistent device strategy, systemwide management becomes difficult. “First rule of thumb: standardizing is better. At a time where there is a high clinical turnover, when we have a lot of floating nurses, the more standardized equipment is, the easier on the patient care side,” said Teklehaimanot. 
• Managing companion mobile devices – Handheld ultrasound devices typically require a companion screen, such as a phone or tablet. A major concern is the use of privately-owned mobile devices that may not be secured and therefore cybersecurity and/or HIPAA violation concerns. 
• Integration with hospital workflows – Incomplete documentation or lack of integration can lead to 'phantom scans,' where ultrasound exams are performed but not incorporated into the medical record.  

These concerns were in a race against real-time adoption. Clinicians aren’t waiting for perfect systems to be in place. “What was really driving me is the fact that clinicians are not pausing until we perfect our policies,” says Teklehaimanot. Devices are already in use across the health system, pushing IT and Biomed teams to catch up with governance, oversight, and infrastructure—while trying not to hinder clinical innovation.

A five-part framework for enterprise handheld ultrasound governance

To bring structure to a fast-growing and complex issue, Teklehaimanot broke the challenge into discrete components that could be independently optimized and later reassembled into a cohesive system. "I thought, what if we divide it and do a value stream map—really iron out the workflow to achieve each component successfully, and then try to bring it together?" This thinking led to the development of a five-part governance framework for handheld ultrasound at the enterprise level.

Early and ongoing vendor partnership

OHSU has partnered closely with GE HealthCare throughout this project. Teklehaimanot noted, "GE HealthCare had the vision to check all the boxes. They didn’t have everything figured out when we started talking, but they listened, they worked on it, and they delivered."

Today, GE HealthCare’s Vscan Air™ handheld ultrasound devices are being evaluated as part of the solution. But Teklehaimanot emphasizes that this is about more than devices—it’s about supporting institutional workflows with infrastructure, configurability, and responsive vendor engagement.

Centralizing handheld ultrasound governance with MyDeviceHub 

A major enabler of OHSU’s handheld ultrasound framework is MyDeviceHub, GE HealthCare’s web-based fleet management solution for handheld ultrasound devices. MyDeviceHub helps IT and biomed departments regain control, visibility, and efficiency over a scattered fleet of Vscan Air probes.

With MyDeviceHub, organization’s gain full visibility of assets across their network, can remotely manage device configurations, set security policies, group devices, and view usage logs. The latest release even introduces SSO functionality to boost security.

By providing centralized control and management, MyDeviceHub is part of the solution to manage and scale handheld ultrasound growth at the enterprise level. It helps institutions maximize the utility of their devices by ensuring they are used safely, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational standards.

Learn more about Digital Tools for Vscan Air: solutions designed to deliver efficiency, security, and clinical collaboration.

Looking ahead—a vision for institutional handheld ultrasound use
While handhelds have not yet replaced cart-based systems at OHSU, Dr. Silver believes their moment is coming. “One per team is probably a more ideal scenario than one per person,” he notes. That model allows institutions to scale use responsibly, without sacrificing oversight.

Dr. Silver also sees new opportunities in outpatient settings, where handhelds are gaining traction among nephrologists, pediatricians, and primary care physicians. With reimbursement models that reward speed and accuracy, handheld ultrasound is poised to become a front-line tool across more care environments.

Have you started your handheld ultrasound governance roadmap?
OHSU’s team offers a clear message to health systems just beginning this journey: Don’t wait until devices flood your institution. Build the framework first.

“Divide and conquer. Start by mapping the workflow, break it into components, and solve for each. Then bring them together,” Teklehaimanot advises. “Right now, we’re mitigating a future problem. Once these devices proliferate and we have thousands of them it becomes a critical issue. I’m saying: let’s build a robust process now so we’re ready.”

Their example offers a scalable, governance-led approach to managing handheld ultrasound that supports innovation—without compromising infrastructure or security.

Watch: Putting clinicians first – an enterprise framework for scaling handheld ultrasound

_{Vscan Air is a trademarks of GE HealthCare.}

_{Products and features may not be available in all countries and regions. Full product technical specifications are available upon request. Contact a GE HealthCare representative for more information.} 

_{©2026 GE HealthCare. GE is a trademark of General Electric Company used under trademark license.}