Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
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The aim of this study was to determine rates of and possible reasons for guideline-discordant ordering of CT pulmonary angiography for the evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) in the emergency department. ⋯ Many of the guideline-discordant orders were placed for patients who presented with evidence-based risk factors for PE that are not included in the risk stratification scores. Therefore, guideline-discordant ordering may indicate that in the presence of these factors, the assessment of risk made by current scoring systems may not align with clinical suspicion.
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To compare the use of medical imaging (x-ray [XR], CT, ultrasound, and MRI) in the emergency department (ED) for adult patients of different racial and ethnic groups in the United States from 2005 to 2014. ⋯ We observed significant racial and ethnic differences in medical imaging use in the ED even after controlling for patient- and facility-level factors.
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The increasingly realistic prospect of artificial intelligence (AI) playing an important role in radiology has been welcomed with a mixture of enthusiasm and anxiousness. A consensus has arisen that AI will support radiologists in the interpretation of less challenging cases, which will give the radiologists more time to focus on the challenging tasks as well as interactions with patients and other clinicians. The possibility of AI replacing a large number of radiologists is generally dismissed by the radiology community. ⋯ However, I conclude that none of the arguments provide sufficient support for the claim that AI will not create a significant disruption in the radiology workforce. Such disruption is a real possibility. Although the radiology specialty has shown an astonishing ability to adapt to the changing technology, the future is uncertain, and an honest, in-depth discussion is needed to guide development of the field.
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The 2018 radiology Intersociety Committee reviewed the current state of stress and burnout in our workplaces and identified approaches for fostering engagement, wellness, and job satisfaction. In addition to emphasizing the importance of personal wellness (the fourth aim of health care), the major focus of the meeting was to identify strategies and themes to mitigate the frequency, manifestations, and impact of stress. Strategies include reducing the stigma of burnout, minimizing isolation through community building and fostering connectivity, utilizing data and benchmarking to guide effectiveness of improvement efforts, resourcing and training "wellness" committees, acknowledging value contributions of team members, and improving efficiency in the workplace. Four themes were identified to prioritize organizational efforts: (1) collecting, analyzing, and benchmarking data; (2) developing effective leadership; (3) building high-functioning teams; and (4) amplifying our voice to increase our influence.