Dear AuntMinnie Member,
A proposal by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to use its teleradiology program to take over most of the reading services for a Rhode Island hospital is generating controversy in the state.
A number of Rhode Island radiologists are up in arms over the proposal, which would see MGH assume the majority of reading services for Kent Hospital in Warwick, according to an article by staff writer Wayne Forrest that we're featuring in our Imaging Center Digital Community. The plan would sharply reduce the number of studies sent to Kent's current radiology group, Toll Gate Radiology.
Opponents of the plan think it could set a dangerous precedent, with prestigious academic centers using teleradiology connections to move in on turf once held by local radiology groups. Others see the development as an unfortunate but perhaps inevitable occurrence due to the widespread acceptance of teleradiology.
Make up your own mind by reading the story, available by clicking here, or visit our Imaging Center Digital Community at centers.auntminnie.com.
In other news, the American College of Physicians (ACP) today muddied the waters over mammography screening by issuing new guidelines that fail to recommend screening for women in their 40s.
In releasing the guidelines, the group said that while there are clear benefits to screening women over 50, the clinical evidence is not strong enough to recommend screening younger women. The ACP advised women in their 40s to consult with their physician to determine when to start screening.
The news comes less than a week after the American Cancer Society gave MRI breast screening the thumbs up for certain groups of high-risk women. The question is whether women will become confused by the flurry of screening guidelines issued by an alphabet soup of physician and public health groups. Only time will tell.
Get the rest of the details by clicking here, or visit our Women's Imaging Digital Community at women.auntminnie.com.
