Dear AuntMinnie Member,
A prominent cardiologist is calling on his specialty to fight efforts by radiologists to restrict the use of imaging technology by nonradiologists -- and he's predicting victory as well.
In the plenary address for this week's 2005 American College of Cardiology meeting, ACC president Dr. Michael Wolk criticized efforts by organized radiology to restrict cardiologists from gaining access to the latest cardiac imaging technology. AuntMinnie staff editor Tracie L. Thompson was there to report on the story for our Cardiac Imaging Digital Community.
In words that are sure to inflame radiologists, Wolk said that "all qualified physicians must be permitted to use essential tools to do their jobs," and those tools include imaging technology.
Wolk's speech indicates that radiologists are likely to face a determined foe that's fiercely opposed to their efforts to maintain control over new cardiac imaging technologies, such as cardiac CT. While radiology has some allies among those who are concerned about the rapid rise in imaging utilization, cardiologists are a powerful force in controlling patients and influencing the political landscape. For the rest of the story, click here.
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