Diagnostic Reading #31: Five “Must Read” Articles on HIT and Radiology

Reading Time: 3 minutes read

Medical record storage, over-recommended mammograms, and point-of-care ultrasound are in the news.

This week’s articles include: Kaiser EDs implement head CT trauma rules that reduce utilization; how long should healthcare providers save medical images; U.S. physicians over-recommend mammography; more point-of-care ultrasound is needed in ambulances and in ED; and the ACR launches a project that brings the brightest imaging informatics minds together with industry stakeholders and patient advocates to discuss who can use and own patient data, what methods of communication are best, and how AI can be used.

Community EDs cut needless trauma CT using Canadian rule – Health Imaging

After implementing an established rule for selecting head CT for trauma patients, 13 Kaiser Permanente community EDs in Southern California reduced avoidable head CT utilization by 5.3 percent while improving their performance on injury identification, according to a study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Should medical images be saved indefinitely? – Imaging Biz

It has become standard practice over the years for imaging providers to maintain data for at least five years, but according to an article published in the JACR, perhaps that data should be stored indefinitely. Study authors cite “plummeting storage costs” and say that many facilities don’t know how long to store each type of exam. It might be easier to keep them than to delete them.

Too many US physicians over-recommend mammography – Radiology Business

U.S. physicians are guilty of over-recommending mammography to women, according to a survey published in JAMA’s Internal Medicine journal. Conflicting recommendations from imaging societies and regulatory bodies, fee-for-service payment systems, and fear of malpractice litigation are major factors, according to the authors.

Study: CT screening would cut lung cancer deaths in China – Auntminnie

Using a statistical model, Chinese researchers found that CT screening could reduce deaths from lung cancer in China by 24% compared with no screening. This would be achieved mostly by reducing deaths among smokers, according to a paper published in the Chinese Journal of Cancer.

A call for more point-of-care ultrasound in ambulances and in ED – Health Imaging

A fourth-year medical student who logged 10 years as an EMT, paramedic, and volunteer firefighter is encouraging physicians to embrace point-of-care ultrasound for use in the field. The student believes emergency physicians need more training in the benefits offered by ultrasound exams.

Being patient with AI – ACR

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have the potential to revolutionize many aspects of medicine including radiology. But the right tools must be developed and implemented to help physicians improve patient care. The ACR launched a Data Science Institute and DSI Advisory Group that brings the brightest imaging informatics minds together with industry/technology stakeholders and patient advocates to discuss issues such as who can use and own patient data, what methods of communication are best and how AI can be used.

Medical imaging in the NFL – Everything Rad

This week’s blog on Everything Rad looks at the role of medical imaging on the sidelines of the NFL. The blog captures the presentation made by Anthony Anderson at AHRA 2017 about his job with the Seattle Seahawks.

Check back next Friday for a new issue of Diagnostic Reading. #healthIT #radiology #diagnosticreading