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In most OB/GYN practices today, the ultrasound experience still ends the same way it did decades ago: with a strip of thermal paper handed to the patient.
But behind the scenes, that process is becoming harder to sustain.
Thermal paper costs are rising. Patients expect digital access. And front desk teams are increasingly fielding requests like:
“Can you email me the images?”
“Do you have a video?”
“Can I get another copy?”
Practices are starting to ask a simple question:
Is there a better way to deliver ultrasound images to patients?
Thermal printouts were never designed to be the primary way patients access their images.
They come with real limitations:
• They fade over time
• They are difficult to digitize cleanly
• They don’t capture motion (which is often what patients care about most)
• Reprinting is time-consuming for staff
At the same time, patient expectations have shifted.
Everything else in healthcare is becoming digital. Patients can access lab results, message providers, and view records online. But when it comes to ultrasounds, one of the most meaningful moments in care, they are still handed paper.
That gap is becoming more noticeable.
Some practices try to bridge the gap by emailing images or uploading them to patient portals.
In reality, both approaches create friction:
• Email raises HIPAA concerns and often requires manual steps
• Portals are not designed for emotional engagement and often have low login rates
• Neither option handles video clips well
• Staff still have to manually manage requests
These solutions were not built for ultrasound delivery. They are workarounds.
Another signal that traditional workflows are breaking down is what’s happening inside the exam room.
More practices are seeing patients or their partners try to record the ultrasound screen.
Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle. But it’s happening often enough that it’s become a recurring issue in many offices.
This behavior isn’t the problem itself. It’s a workaround.
Patients are trying to capture something meaningful, and they don’t feel confident they’ll get it otherwise.
For practices, it creates a difficult dynamic:
• Sonographers have to manage distractions during the scan
• Policies around recording can feel uncomfortable to enforce
• Recordings can capture partial or out-of-context information
• Once shared, the practice has no control over how that content is used
Some practices try to address this with stricter policies. But like with printing, policies don’t solve the underlying issue.
A growing number of practices are moving toward direct digital delivery from the ultrasound machine.
Instead of printing or manually sending files, images and clips are:
• Selected by the sonographer during the scan
• Sent directly from the machine
• Delivered securely to the patient’s phone
This approach removes steps rather than adding them.
It also fits naturally into the existing workflow. In many setups, it’s as simple as using a print button, following the same behavior the sonographer would normally use to print.
Platforms like Sona, which integrate directly with DICOM-compatible ultrasound systems, allow practices to send selected images and clips to patients without requiring additional hardware or changes to existing workflows.
Practices that implement digital delivery typically see:
• Fewer patient follow-up requests for images
• Reduced reliance on thermal paper
• Less front desk involvement in image distribution
• Fewer situations where patients try to record the screen
It also improves the patient experience without extending appointment time.
Patients leave with something they can actually use and share, without needing to take extra steps.
Not all image-sharing tools are built for ultrasound workflows.
If you’re evaluating options, a few things matter:
• No additional hardware required
• Works directly with your ultrasound machines (DICOM compatible)
• Does not require EMR or PACS integration
• HIPAA-compliant by default
• Simple for sonographers to use during the scan
If the solution adds steps, it likely won’t be adopted consistently.
This isn’t just a technology upgrade. It’s a shift in expectations.
Patients now assume that important moments in their lives will be captured and accessible digitally.
Ultrasound is one of the last areas in healthcare where that expectation hasn’t been fully met.
Practices that address it are not just improving operations. They are aligning with how patients already expect to experience care.
If your practice is still relying on printouts or manual image sharing, it may be worth exploring what digital delivery could look like in your workflow.
Learn more at sonagram.com or schedule a quick demo to see how it works in practice.
