Development and implementation of a breast imaging order panel in the electronic health record: Helping the ordering providers get it right.

Appropriate ordering of breast imaging studies is complex due to the variety of clinical indications and available imaging modalities. Incorrect ordering affects radiology resource allocation due to the different workflows and personnel requirements of screening and diagnostic breast imaging. Through the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in Primary Care, Radiology, and Information Services & Solutions, we developed and implemented a breast imaging order panel in the electronic health record with integrated clinical decision support to facilitate correct order selection for screening patients at average-risk and high-risk of breast cancer and for diagnostic breast imaging of symptomatic patients.

Early-Stage Radiology Volume Effects and Considerations with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: Adaptations, Risks, and Lessons Learned.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in significant loss of radiologic volume as a result of shelter-at-home mandates and delay of non-time-sensitive imaging studies to preserve capacity for the pandemic. We analyze the volume-related impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on six academic medical systems (AMSs), three in high COVID-19 surge (high-surge) and three in low COVID-19 surge (low-surge) regions, and a large national private practice coalition. We sought to assess adaptations, risks of actions, and lessons learned. METHODS: Percent change of 2020 volume per week was compared with the corresponding 2019 volume calculated for each of the 14 imaging modalities and overall total, outpatient, emergency, and inpatient studies in high-surge AMSs and low-surge AMSs and the practice coalition. RESULTS: Steep examination volume drops occurred during week 11, with slow recovery starting week 17. The lowest total AMS volume drop was 40% compared with the same period the previous year, and the largest was 70%. The greatest decreases were seen with screening mammography and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans, and the smallest decreases were seen with PET/CT, x-ray, and interventional radiology. Inpatient volume was least impacted compared with outpatient or emergency imaging. CONCLUSION: Large percentage drops in volume were seen from weeks 11 through 17, were seen with screening studies, and were larger for the high-surge AMSs than for the low-surge AMSs. The lowest drops in volume were seen with modalities in which delays in imaging had greater perceived adverse consequences.

Advances in percutaneous nephrostomy

Management of urologic patients is being gradually but dramatically altered with new advances in technical innovation and refinements of interventional uroradiology. The broadening of indications for percutaneous nephrostomy became possible only after it was learned that it is a safe and effective means of establishing access to the renal collecting system. Percutaneous stone extraction (Nephrolithotomy) and Endopyelotomy are now well established procedures. These techniques have clear advantages over the surgical treatment for the same conditions and will increase the quality of patient care and reduce health care cost.