Julie Morse's Blog – June 2017 Archive (13)

Going through TSA’s full body scanner has become an expected part of air flight. However, the Department of Homeland Security is working to make these scanners more accurate as a way to prevent…

In the 1907 World Series, the Detroit Tigers tried to defeat the Chicago Cubs by surreptitiously using an unsanctioned baseball. Their attempts were unsuccessful, and the Cubs went on to win the World Series. Despite their victory, there has always been speculation of the ball’s anatomy, and whether or not it…

There’s a disparity between radiologists’ commitment to providing strong patient care, and the number of patients who feel they’re receiving adequate attention. Although many radiologists want to maintain an open rapport with their patients, an overwhelming workload often hinders them from engaging in high level…

Referrals are a main facet of medicine’s ecosystem. Amino, a platform that synthesizes data from insurance companies to create a transparent healthcare marketplace, wanted to get a full perspective of how referrals work. So they evaluated…

Patient satisfaction is the focal point of healthcare. It’s the ultimate way to measure the effectiveness of a facility and the quality of practitioners. High patient satisfaction means strong patient retention and reduced risk of malpractice. Over the years, facilities have started to take patient satisfaction more seriously. A…

Studies have shown that gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) can leave traces of gadolinium in the brain. By and large, the diagnosis tool is considered safe for non-renal insufficient patients. However, research over the last few years has made medical policy advocates think differently about the way we should use GBCAs.…

Radiologists don’t observe their patients like other clinicians. That’s why radiologists chose this specialty, because the interpretation process isn’t superficial. The diagnosis requires an examination that’s deeper than what’s immediately visible.

Former Harvard University professor of radiology…

Radiologists (and all physicians for that matter) are compensated based on RVU, or relative value unit. RVUs are measured using a variety of factors: work, expenses, and liability insurance. Those variables are divided into different components that evaluate time, skill, judgement, equipment, and supplies. The Medicare rate is determined by multiplying the…

Getting a second opinion was once considered an optional consultation. Yet, over the last couple of years, research has determined that a second opinion is imperative to a patient’s health. According to a 2016 study…

Text messaging has become the dominant form of communication. So that’s why it would make sense to send patients appointment-reminders via text message. A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology determined that texting a patient to remind them of their upcoming MRI exam reduced no-shows by 1.3…

An enlarged prostate can seriously impede daily life functions. Benign prostate hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate affects 80 percent of males, and that same percentage experience complications such as urinary retention and kidney damage. Traditional remedies include invasive surgery, cutting the tissue out, and other advancements that diminish the…

In the last few years, Artificial Intelligence has been making serious leaps and bounds in radiology. All the commotion has prompted the American College of Radiology (ACR) to enact the Data Science Institute (DSI), an organization that aims to facilitate the advancements of AI in conjunction with radiology. The DSI expects to…

Moles can be mysterious. Often not a cause for concern, a mole is a cluster of pigmented cells that can appear on nearly any part of the body. Rarely do moles evolve into melanoma, but monitoring a mole or any other lesion is critical to stop it from becoming precancerous. Imaging Pioneer Canfield Scientific recently launched a…