A method and system are provided for operating an ultrasound system. The method and system acquire ultrasound data with an ultrasound probe according to at least one of: i) an examination protocol while maintaining an ultrasound probe against a patient region of interest as a patient is moved between first and second examination related positions in connection with the examination protocol or ii) a monitoring protocol during which an ultrasound probe is maintained against a patient region of interest. The method and system collect probe position information and based on the probe position information, identify a patient movement based (PMB) transition of the probe. The method and system direct the ultrasound system to automatically perform an examination related task in connection with identifying the PMB transition.