Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Do radiologists need to clean up their act -- specifically, their workstations? A new study by Canadian researchers indicates that radiologists are open to better hygiene in the reading room after getting information about disinfection and sanitation practices.
Reading room hygiene is an issue that's growing in importance, especially after a 2013 study that found that some radiology workstations had more evidence of bacteria than your average toilet seat. That study prompted the question of whether radiologists could be persuaded to change their ways.
Fortunately, the answer is yes. Researchers from the University of Ottawa found that radiologists cleaned their work areas more often after viewing a presentation on the importance of proper cleaning techniques in the healthcare environment. Learn more by clicking here.
CT in the Arctic
Sometimes we take for granted just how ubiquitous medical imaging technology is in our society. Most developed countries have access to a wealth of advanced imaging, with CT, MRI, and even PET/CT systems within easy reach.
Consider, then, the case of Iqaluit, a town of about 7,000 people on Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. For years the town had access only to x-ray and ultrasound, and images had to be shipped by cargo plane to be interpreted by radiologists hundreds of miles away. Patients who needed more advanced imaging such as CT also had to fly to undergo their scans -- at a cost of $4,000 per patient.
That's all changed with the arrival of the first CT scanner in the town, along with a PACS network and satellite link that enables images to be read by radiologists in faraway Ottawa. Learn more about how medical imaging has improved healthcare in Iqaluit by clicking here, or visit the community at ct.auntminnie.com.
Social media and radiology
Finally, check out a pair of new stories on how social media is changing radiology, both from the academic and private-practice angles. First, read about how Duke University researchers used social media to boost awareness of clinical research, then read Dr. Elliot Fishman's comments on how you can use social media to change your practice's public image.
