Dear AuntMinnie Member,
If you're trying to compare your site's quality and efficiency to that of another radiology facility, how do you know you're comparing apples to apples?
For example, say you want to compare how long it takes your site to check in and register an arriving patient compared to the facility down the street. But you've got two terms describing the registration process, while they have one. What do you do?
The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) is tackling this dilemma with its SIIM Workflow Initiative in Medicine (SWIM), which is trying to establish a lexicon of common terms to describe the workflow steps used in managing patients through the imaging experience.
We first described SWIM to you in November, but now the lexicon has been put through its paces in a real-world environment. Find out how well it did -- and what should be done to improve it -- by clicking here.
Also be sure to check out this story about the unwelcome guests that could be living on your PACS workstation. Warning: The story may have you running for the hand sanitizer.
These articles and more are available in our PACS Digital Community at pacs.auntminnie.com.
Amyvid heart imaging
The PET radiopharmaceutical Amyvid (florbetapir) has primarily been targeted at brain imaging for the detection of plaque buildup that could be a precursor to Alzheimer's disease. However, researchers from Tennessee believe the agent could also be useful for cardiac imaging.
A research team used Amyvid to detect signs of cardiac amyloidosis, a buildup of protein that could lead to various forms of heart disease. Current methods of imaging amyloidosis have drawbacks, and Amyvid could potentially offer an alternative.
Find out how well it performed by clicking here, or go to our Molecular Imaging Digital Community at molecular.auntminnie.com.
EMRs cut radiology costs
Finally, visit our Healthcare IT Digital Community for an article that could figure into the debate over whether investments in electronic medical records (EMRs) are really cutting healthcare costs.
Researchers from the University of Michigan analyzed the effect of EMRs on cost in nine communities in Massachusetts. They found that radiology was one area where the adoption of EMR technology had a definite impact on costs in the ambulatory setting.
Get more details by clicking here, or visit our Healthcare IT Digital Community at healthcareit.auntminnie.com.
