Sustainability might not have been the official theme of the Radiological Society of North America 2022 annual meeting, but it was a prevalent topic among vendors, attendees and presenters.
The World Health Organization has stated that climate change is the biggest health threat facing humanity, and in a session discussing the next five years in radiology, Reed Omary, MD, Chair of the Department of Radiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, echoed that sentiment, cautioning that the world is “looking at a crisis that is even larger than COVID” when it comes to climate threats.
Omary highlighted the energy consumption of the healthcare industry, stating that if the industry as a whole were a country, it would be the 5th largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
But Omary, who also delivered an impassioned lecture on designing the practice of radiology with the planet in mind during a Plenary session, was far from the only one with a sense of urgency regarding climate change and the healthcare industry's role in addressing it.
The exhibit floor was filled with vendors underlining the importance of products that promote sustainability.
From the biodegradable packaging of supplies, to MR and CT scanners reported to cut acquisition times in half, to Philips' helium-free MRI systems and GE’s contrast recycling initiative, there was no shortage of innovation intended to reduce the waste of supplies, time and money.
As RSNA comes to a close in the coming days, it is evident based on the exhibit floor and numerous discussions among attendees and speakers that these initiatives, whether technology-based or otherwise, will continue to be at the forefront of radiology in the coming years.
For more information on RSNA 2022, click here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.