Emergency docs and radiation dose | PACS in Laos | Conebeam CBCT scanner cleared

Dear AuntMinnie Member,

How much do emergency medicine personnel really know about radiation dose from imaging procedures? Probably not as much as they should, according to the results of a new survey.

Researchers from Emory University sent a poll with questions about radiation dose to emergency medicine providers, including attending and resident physicians, as well as midlevel providers such as nurse practitioners. What they got back surprised them.

Nearly half of the respondents were unable to identify which of six commonly used imaging modalities employed ionizing radiation -- and a quarter of midlevel providers didn't know that radiography involved radiation.

Scary, right? But the findings offer an opportunity for radiologists to help educate emergency providers, according to the authors. Learn more about the study by clicking here, or visit our Digital X-Ray Community at x-ray.auntminnie.com.

PACS in Laos

PACS is usually thought of as the most advanced phase of a radiology facility's development. But a new study turns the concept on its head, proposing that PACS could be a key part of helping developing countries use imaging technology more effectively.

Researchers from Laos profiled the case of a pediatric hospital in the country that installed PACS as a way of improving its quality of care. They found that PACS helped correct many problems, such as lost or damaged x-ray films and underutilization of radiology resources.

Get the rest of the story by clicking here, or go to our Imaging Informatics Community at informatics.auntminnie.com.

Conebeam CT scanner cleared

Finally, visit our CT Community to learn about a new conebeam CT scanner that just received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance. The system is designed for orthopedic applications, such as weight-bearing exams and surgical planning. The story is available by clicking here or going to ct.auntminnie.com.