Dear Women's Imaging Insider,
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced all of us to overhaul our routines, and those in the breast imaging world are no exception.
During the pandemic, telemammography may be one solution for providers looking for a way to virtually connect with and triage patients. Breast imaging expert Dr. Hannah Chung shared her insights on the best uses of telemammography during the COVID-19 crisis in this edition's Insider Exclusive.
In other Women's Imaging Community news, the pandemic has forced providers to make tough decisions about which patients should be prioritized for care, including for patients with breast cancer. Often, which patients will get seen depends on the resources available and the urgency of the concern, according to guidance from dozens of experts in a Society of Breast Imaging report published earlier this month.
Do you wonder how your colleagues are handling the COVID-19 crisis? Six radiologists from across the U.S. detailed four ways their schedules have changed in an article in the Journal of Breast Imaging. While most of the radiologists expressed uncertainty over delayed screenings and diagnostic exams, some were optimistic that valuable lessons will come from the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Although much of the recent news in the Women's Imaging Community has focused on the pandemic and its short- and long-term effects, one new study looked at the impact of an insurance change on evidence-based breast cancer treatment. When a major health insurer changed its utilization management policy, more women chose to get shorter, hypofractionated radiotherapy treatments -- in agreement with evidence-based treatment guidelines.
I hope you are staying as safe as possible during the crisis. Times like these are great reminders of how valuable all healthcare professionals, including women's imaging experts, are to our society. Thank you for everything you do to make your patients' lives better.
