Tag: trends in radiology

Top Trends for Radiology and Imaging in 2023

There is no doubt that radiology and imaging will have a few challenges in 2023. With Medicare pay reductions, hospital closures, worker burnout, and a shortage of radiologists, the industry must be creative to continue to provide exceptional patient care.

The industry leaders remain optimistic about their services. There have been more technological advancements, and people are still dedicated to their patients and healthcare. Their efforts are winning combinations for radiology, and they are determined to provide good service despite the challenges.

The current trend for radiology in 2023 will be for more consolidation of radiology practices. Using technology, many urban and outlying hospitals with minimal staffing can transmit information to control centers with professional radiology staffing. The financial burden of training imaging technicians will be, at a minimum allowing the hospital staffing budgets to be used for hands-on patient care.

The Value of Radiology and Imaging

Radiology is a “value-based system” that can reduce medical costs and improve patient outcomes through early disease detection and diagnosis with imaging screening programs. The medical profession, insurance companies, and hospitals recognize this value but struggle with ways to balance their budgets while providing patient care.

Investing in reorganizing the radiology departments has put much of the spendable medical funds to constructive use. The most significant expense for 2023 will be the expansion of artificial intelligence and equipment needed to provide the services.

2023 Equipment, Artificial Intelligence, and Education in Radiology

In November 2022, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) held its expo in Chicago, Illinois. Over 900 displays on the expo floor showed just a glimpse of the exciting future of radiology and imaging.

Featured equipment at the expo included MRI contrast that uses 50% less gadolinium, CT scanners with improved image resolution–and less noise, X-ray-based imaging systems, and CT scan with superior structural supports and better equipment warranties.

ct scan
CT Scanners Will See Improvements

Research and development have also made great strides in new X-ray lung airflow imaging technologies. Also, innovative breast imaging technologies that use ultrasound and elastography may reduce the need for some biopsies.

The FDA has now cleared hundreds of artificial intelligence algorithms that will be able to help radiologists with their workflow. These algorithms are applications that can help lessen worker burnout. Networks can integrate these applications, which allows organizations to work together, distributing workload and expertise efficiently.

Artificial intelligence spans many areas of radiology and imaging. Some of the applications not only improve the productivity of radiologists, but AI tools can improve imaging quality to detect disease and even embolisms or hemorrhages.

Artificial intelligence is making strides in education for radiologists and technicians. Research and Innovation are essential to the integrity of the practice, and artificial intelligence is helping to fulfill the academic needs of the staff.

radiology trends
AI in radiology

More to Come

Every year technology advances and enhances healthcare workflows and processes. Most hospitals and clinics still in operation have gone digital, allowing them to operate with advanced equipment and programs designed to provide exceptional patient care.

Radiologists and technicians are still in demand even if the systems incorporate more use of technology. Any radiology shortages can be remedied with the help of established and tech-forward teleradiology companies like Vesta Teleradiology. Education in the radiology and imaging field will need to keep up with the changes to make the technicians better while improving patient diagnoses and patient care. 

 

Pediatric Radiology Trends

Pediatric radiology covers a wide range of uses. From broken bones to dental exams to chronic conditions, it’s arguably one of the most important advancements in medical history. Even more impressive, the improvement hasn’t stopped there. Pediatric radiology has made multiple advancements over time, many of them in the past few years, including lower exposure techniques and non-invasive imaging.

One of the most influential advancements in pediatric radiology is the use of ionizing radiation. According to a 2021 article by Imaging Technology News, radiation is a big factor in medical imaging for children. Because their organs are still developing, they are more sensitive to radiation, and can develop illnesses, including leukemia or brain and thyroid cancer, if exposed to too much of it. To combat exposure, medical professionals use computed tomography, fluoroscopy, and the x-ray. All three imaging procedures use a form of ionizing technology which allows doctors to diagnose patients non-invasively. These life-saving advancements are incredibly useful, however, over time and with cumulative exposure, radiation is still a concern, according to the article.

In 2019, Business Wire wrote about a recently approved FDA technology that reduces the dose of radiation to pediatric patients while still producing a clear image. The S-Vue, produced by Samsung, “reduced x-ray dose up to 45% for pediatric abdomen exams, 15.5% for pediatric chest exams, and up to 27% for pediatric skull exams.” S-Vue uses noise-reducing technology to produce these clear images. As if this wasn’t extraordinary enough, Samsung also released an updated version of the S-Vue for adults earlier this year, said Design and Development Today.

For the smallest patients, a new MRI system recently became approved just last year and is being used in Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, and hospitals around the world, according to Forbes. The Embrace Neonatal MRI System accommodates newborns and infants for clear images while not moving the tiny patient, who may be in critical condition, to different parts of the hospital. According to their website, the Embrace is the first FDA approved neonatal MRI system for exclusive use inside NICUs for newborns.

In addition to technologies used for newborns, ultrasounds have become advanced as well. Usually, an ultrasound is the first record of a new life, producing that fuzzy, albeit beautiful image of a parents’ child. However, ultrasounds are used for many more reasons. According to Forbes, the ultrasound has gotten a bit of an upgrade, including 3-D and 4-D technologies, and an ultra-doppler advancement technique, among other innovations. According to the article, ultrasound elastography is a technique used to detect different stages of liver fibrosis. This technology reduces the need for young patients to undergo a biopsy where sedation and anesthesia may be required.

 

teleradiology pediatric

While the reason for these technologies may not be our favorite thoughts, it is a comfort and an uplifting notion that the innovators, scientists, and medical professionals behind these machines are working hard to help the youngest among us and to reinforce the idea that we are truly here to help one another.