Medical Imaging Professionals Develop Safety Checklist to Improve Pediatric Radiography

Newswise — The October issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR) focuses on a variety of issues relating to clinical practice, practice management, health services and policy, and radiology education and training. Topics to be covered include the evolving role of the radiologist; the increasing role of radiologists in thoracic diagnosis; the Image Gently® Pediatric Digital Radiography Safety Checklist; managing incidental findings on abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and an analysis of radiologists’ imaging workload trends by place of service.

Articles include:

The Evolving Role of the Radiologist: The Vancouver Workload Utilization Evaluation StudyDeljit Dhanoa, BSc, M.D., MBA; Tajinder S. Dhesi, BS; Kirsteen R. Burton, MSc, MBA, M.D.; Savvas Nicolaou, M.D.; Teresa Liang, BScLocal radiologists provide added value beyond image interpretation, which suggests they are difficult to replace by non-radiologist physicians and off-site radiologists.

The Increasing Role of Radiologists in Thoracic Diagnosis: More Thoracic Biopsies Are Performed PercutaneouslyRichard E. Sharpe Jr., M.D., MBA; David C. Levin, M.D.; Laurence Parker, PhD; Vijay M. Rao, M.D. Fewer thoracic biopsies are being performed overall in the Medicare population, but the rate of radiologist-performed percutaneous thoracic biopsies continues to increase; consequently, radiologists are increasingly important in thoracic diagnosis.

The Image Gently Pediatric Digital Radiography Safety Checklist: Tools for Improving Pediatric RadiographySusan D. John, M.D.; Quentin T. Moore, MPH, RT(R)(T)(QM); Tracy Herrmann, MEd, RT(R); Steven Don, M.D.; Kevin Powers, EdD, RT(R)(M); Susan N. Smith, RT(R); Greg Morrison, M.A., RT(R), CNMT, CAE; Ellen Charkot, MRT(R), QC, BHA; Thalia T. Mills, PhD; Lois Rutz, MS; Marilyn J. Goske, M.D. Standardization of work processes in pediatric digital radiography can be improved by the use of a safety checklist that decreases reliance on memory and reduces the chance for medical errors.

Managing Incidental Findings on Abdominal and Pelvic CT and MRI, Part 2: White Paper of the ACR Incidental Findings Committee II on Vascular Findings Faisal Khosa, M.D.; Glenn Krinsky, M.D.; Michael Macari, M.D.; E. Kent Yucel, M.D.; Lincoln L. Berland, M.D. This white paper details the consensus of the ACR Incidental Findings Committee II on vascular findings.

Analysis of Radiologists’ Imaging Workload Trends by Place of ServiceDavid C. Levin, M.D.; Vijay M. Rao, M.D.; Laurence Parker, PhD; Andrea J. Frangos, MSIn recent years, there has essentially been a cessation of radiologists’ imaging workload growth in hospital outpatient and inpatient facilities and private offices, but growth continues in emergency department imaging.

For additional information, or to schedule an interview with a JACR spokesperson, please contact Heather Williams at 703-390-9822 or [email protected].