Dear AuntMinnie Member,
Will the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) get it right this time? Women's health advocates are hoping for the best as the agency releases new guidelines on when women should receive bone density screening exams.
USPSTF now recommends bone density screening for any woman past the age of menopause who is at risk of osteoporosis -- the agency's previous guidelines did not recommend screening for any woman younger than 60. Bone density screenings should now become available to more women -- and insurance most likely will pay for them.
In addition to a policy revamp, the recommendations represent a change in USPSTF's process for implementing new clinical guidelines, most likely in response to the 2009 fiasco over mammography screening. Find out what's different by clicking here, or visit our Women's Imaging Digital Community at women.auntminnie.com.
Breaking PACS barriers
In other news, we're featuring an article on how radiologists can break through the barriers that sometimes arise following the implementation of PACS technology.
PACS has been a huge boon to radiology, but it can reduce the daily interactions with clinicians that characterized medical imaging in the era before filmless imaging. Clinicians are even becoming increasingly confident in their own ability to interpret images right off a PACS -- without the assistance of a radiologist.
How can radiologists renew their professional relationships with clinicians, and maintain their role as imaging specialists? Find out by clicking here for the article in our PACS Digital Community, or go to pacs.auntminnie.com.
