The Image Gently Alliance has joined with a coalition of academic pediatric and cardiology organizations to raise awareness about the need to reduce radiation dose in pediatric heart imaging studies.
Called the Have-A-Heart campaign, the multisociety initiative is designed to help healthcare providers more appropriately use and optimize the use of CT, fluoroscopy, and nuclear medicine studies for diagnosing and treating pediatric heart disease. The project is designed to give providers and parents resources that will help them communicate when imaging procedures may or may not be the best option for kids.
Tools and resources in the Have-A-Heart campaign are designed to address the following:
- Ensure that exam-ordering patterns adhere to evidence-based medical guidelines
- Assist healthcare providers in explaining to parents and caregivers why a scan might be necessary
- Help parents ask the right questions to make informed decisions if a cardiac imaging exam is recommended for their child
- Aid imaging professionals in optimizing radiation dose
The publication of a paper on May 7 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging on radiation safety in children with heart disease accompanied the launch of the campaign, according to the organizations.
