Patient Care

This page includes news coverage of various aspects of patient healthcare, including new technology innovations, what is working, what is not, personalized medicine and remote and telemedicine delivery. Find specific news in the areas of Care DeliveryDigital TransformationPrecision MedicineRemote Monitoring and Telehealth.

X-ray results suggest telehealth may be a bad fit for treating musculoskeletal conditions

Musculoskeletal X-rays ordered during telemedicine appointments had a higher likelihood of showing "normal" results than those ordered during in-person visits, suggesting those exams may have not been necessary in the first place. 

Arzhang Fallahi, MD, and David Hsi, MD, discussing imaging-based aortic stenosis screening

Q&A: Cardiologists explore the potential impact of a screening program for aortic stenosis

We already screen patients for breast cancer and lung cancer on a regular basis. Why not establish screening programs for aortic stenosis?

Down syndrome medical imaging radiation dose

Children with Down syndrome receive too much radiation-based imaging

Reviewing 20 years’ worth of data, researchers have found children with Down syndrome are imaged more often than others and, in the process, get exposed to significantly more ionizing radiation.

Medicare alternative payment models fee for service value based care

Unavoidability of ‘one-off’ imaging forces radiology to keep one foot in fee-for-service world

Radiology can participate only sporadically in CMS’s current conception of value-based care. Why?

doctor telehealth computer screen

Virtual radiology consultation services could add value—but are patients interested?

Patients appeared to show little interest in the offering, presenting an "important quandary" for the specialty, according to a new study. 

breast cancer mammography mammogram

Some cancer patients may be able to skip the radiation after breast-conserving surgery

Skipping radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery would mean patients get to avoid the side effects linked to radiation exposure. 

U.S. News & World Report children’s hospitals cardiology heart surgery

Imagers trim pediatric sedation and anesthesia over 11-year period

Continued improvement in imaging techniques and development of clinical practice guidelines may further reduce the need, experts noted. 

liver cancer

Targeted training reduces certain radiologist errors when reading contrast-enhanced CT

Physicians can sometimes overlook low-contrast lesions, such as hepatic metastases or pancreatic adenocarcinoma, on computed tomography scans. 

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.