One of the most important medical innovations of the last century is the ultrasound. First used in 1956, the sonogram quickly evolved into a useful diagnostic tool for cases requiring examination of the lungs, heart, kidneys, ovaries, uterus, testicles, and many more organs and systems of the body. It has become instrumental in emergency medical…
Who Is the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine?
The Mayo Clinic announces the end of the use of live animals in emergency medicine training as the Physicians committee for Responsible Medicine claims it is the FINAL medical school to do so. The website www.pcrm.org claims that the organization has been working for three decades to end animal use in the areas of advanced…
Ways to Take Your Ultrasound Expertise to the Next Level
Ultrasonography is the technique of delineating areas or objects in the body via the use of ultrasound pulses. It is an invaluable practice in the medical field, especially in emergency room settings. Ultrasound can accurately assess a patient’s situation in one minute or less. This can indicate immediately whether a severely injured patient has the…
From the Newsroom at ASRT – ASRT Board of Directors Provides Update on Gonadal and Fetal Shielding Position
At its June meeting, the ASRT Board of Directors held extensive discussions about the emerging issue of ending the use of patient gonadal and fetal shielding during medical diagnostic x-ray procedures. The issue has become top-of-mind within the radiologic technology community as gonadal and fetal shielding are longstanding practices for facilities and radiologic technologists. In…
The Joint Commission Deletes Fluoroscopy User Training Requirement
Seriously, are we confused here? The Joint Commission has announced its decision to delete the fluoroscopy user training requirement from the requirements that went into effect January 1, 2019. They released this statement June 17,2019: “Effective immediately, The Joint Commission is deleting Standard HR.01.05.03, element of performance (EP) 15 from the Ambulatory Care, Critical Access…
Non-compete Agreements and Doc-Napping
A geographic pos-employment restrictive covenant is often called a “noncompete clause” in a contract stating you are unable to work within a specified number of miles for a specified number of years should you resign or be terminated by your employer. These clauses apply when one group of physicians lose the business at a healthcare…
How Much Is Your Time Really Worth? Time vs Money Dilemma
On every professional and social healthcare network similar questions are being asked. What is the salary range for your job? How is salary determined? What factors influence salary and compensation packages? The internet community boards are asking the same questions. What are your hours, call pay, callbacks, salary, working conditions, and “other duties assigned” beyond…
Advanced imaging technology and your future… Where will you be in 5 years?
The future has already arrived. It just isn’t evenly distributed yet. Digital radiography, artificial intelligence, picture archiving and communication systems, computed assisted diagnosis, functional fMri, non-invasive angiography, 4D ultrasound, and 3D mammography are just a few of the newer procedure equipment. The hybrid equipment has combined modalities utilizing principles of MR, PET, SPECT, CT and…
A Nurse Sounds Off… Violence against healthcare workers
There is a very fundamental problem in U.S. healthcare and that is violence against healthcare workers. If you haven’t picked up on the fact that this issue is a highly sensitive topic, then you haven’t been paying attention. Healthcare workers shouldn’t be managed as a commodity for a consumer to use and abuse. But the…
The Elephant in the Room: Race and Discrimination Thoughts on Implicit Bias
As the country and the population becomes more diverse, society in general has become more stratified and many of communities have become marginalized. The healthcare industry isn’t immune to the effects of this stratification and marginalization. I live in a city where implicit bias is built into the healthcare system and you probably do too….