Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, professor of radiology and chair of the department of radiology at the University of Virginia, vice chair of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Board of Chancellors and the chairman of the ACR Commission on Interventional and Cardiovascular Radiology, spoke with us about the ongoing contrast shortage. He explained how the ACR and group purchasing organizations are asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to mitigate the contrast shortage with an emergency use authorization (EUA) to allow non-FDA cleared iodine contrast agents to be imported and used in the U.S. on a temporary basis.
Such an EUA would allow U.S. hospitals to use contrast agents that are not cleared for use in the United States on a temporary basis until the health emergency of the iodine contrast shortage has passed.
"The ACR legal team and the governance team have been interacting with the FDA, providing them names of other companies that might have other iodine contrast agents available, maybe in Mexico or China that are available," Matsumoto said.
The ACR released a statement this week explaining its work with the FDA. Read the full article.
In the interview, Matsumoto discussed the contrast shortage situation at length, its impact on hospitals and the tough decisions that are now being made by providers all over the country.
Related Imaging Contrast Agent Shortage News:
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Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: dfornell@innovatehealthcare.com