The Rheumatology department at the Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín University Hospital, affiliated with the Canary Islands Government's Health Department, conducts over 7,000 clinical ultrasounds annually in its outpatient area. Data analyzed from the week of June 15-19, 2026, shows 176 ultrasounds performed (33.5% of patients seen) and 66 joint or soft tissue infiltrations (12.5%).
Clinical ultrasound is routinely performed by all rheumatologists in the department, offering immediate diagnostic assistance during the consultation and enabling prompt therapeutic decisions. The implementation of this technique optimizes healthcare resources by reducing the need for subsequent imaging tests, such as additional standard ultrasounds or MRI scans.
The hospital's Rheumatology department emphasizes that this procedure, defined as a clinical ultrasound to aid in consultation, allows for diagnosis confirmation and image-guided punctures. It is a dynamic exploration tool integrated into the medical act, distinct from a standard ultrasound performed by a radiologist in diagnostic imaging. Through clinical ultrasound in outpatient activity, the Rheumatology service consolidates a high-resolution model that enhances efficiency and avoids unnecessary patient waiting times.
Furthermore, the Rheumatology department attended 23,800 consultations and 200 admissions in 2025. They also performed 4,070 densitometries and 271 capillaroscopies.
