Diagnostic Reading: Five Must-Read Articles From the Past Week

In this week’s Diagnostic Reading we look at a new breast screening study, response time for stat mobile x-ray, consumers and healthcare technology, EMR adoption, and gamma imaging dense breast tissue.

In this week’s Diagnostic Reading we look at a new breast screening study, response time for stat mobile x-ray, consumers and healthcare technology, EMR adoption, and gamma imaging dense breast tissue.

BMJ: Dutch Data Show Breast Cancer Screening Works – AuntMinnie

According to the authors of a new study published in BMJ, the Dutch example of breast cancer screening works, and mammography screening is a clear way of detecting cancer early, along with increased breast cancer awareness. Women have a greater chance of five-year survival if breast cancer is detected early while tumors are small, fewer in number, and early-stage, noted the authors from Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam.

Hospital Slashes Response Time for Stat Mobile X-ray – AuntMinnie

According to an article in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, A Texas hospital was able to cut radiologic technologist response time to 10 minutes for orders for stat mobile x-ray exams from the facility’s medical intensive care unit (ICU). Implementing a series of improvements that included workflow changes, an equipment upgrade, and — perhaps most importantly — changes in ordering patterns by ICU physicians enabled the radiology department at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston to reduce technologist response times from over 45 minutes to 10 minutes.

Deloitte: Consumers Using More Healthcare Technology – Healthcare IT News

Americans are increasing their use of technology to improve their health, navigate the health system and flex their shopping muscles, according to a new report from The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. The report, “Health Care Consumer Engagement: No One-Size-Fits-All Approach,” found that 22 percent of respondents used technology to access, store and transmit health records in the last year, up from 13 percent in 2013. Use was higher for those with major chronic conditions: 32 percent compared to 19 percent in 2013.

Study: Full EMR Adoption Can Help Hospitals Overcome “Weekend Effect” – Healthcare Informatics

The weekend effect refers to patients who undergo surgeries on weekends, leading patients to experience longer hospital stays, and hospitals to face higher mortality rates and readmissions. The study, published in the Annals of Surgery, identified five resources that can help hospitals overcome this effect: increased nurse-to bed ratio; full adoption of EMRs; inpatient physical rehabilitation; a home-health program; and a pain management program.\

Gamma Imaging and Dense Breasts: Clinicians Evaluate its Role Along with MRI and Ultrasound – Radiology Today

Looking for the best adjunct imaging to complement mammography for women with dense breasts can be as challenging as reading the mammograms themselves. Comparing the functional imaging that comes with nuclear gamma imaging modalities such as molecular breast imaging (MBI) and breast specific gamma imaging to anatomical imaging of ultrasound and MRI results in debates over the pros and cons of these options. The need for images to drive diagnosis and treatment decisions is continually weighed against the chance of false-positives and the potential long-term effects of radiation exposure.

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