A group of Canadian medical societies led by the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) has issued a set of guidelines designed to help healthcare providers resume offering routine radiology services that may have been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most estimates have found that medical imaging procedure volumes have fallen about 50% during the COVID-19 outbreak. This has led to expectations of a postpandemic "surge" in radiology as patients try to reschedule exams that have been postponed.
To help radiologists prepare, the Canadian Association of Radiologists established a task force to help radiology providers resume services in a manner that ensures the safety of both healthcare providers and patients.
The CAR worked with other medical societies, as well as representatives from Canada's provinces, to develop a document that provides guidance on how to safely resume medical imaging services. The document includes an overview of patient safety, triage, cleaning protocols, human resource issues, and communications planning. It references the latest published reports published in peer-reviewed journals from areas of the world that have already begun to resume services.
The goal of the document is to give providers guidance that helps facilitate the ramp-up of medical imaging services in a safe and productive manner, according to CAR. The document can be accessed on the group's website.
