Editorial
The Value of Radiology
Dear readers, For this last issue of 2012, we feature a number of thought provoking pieces for radiologist and radiology managers. Dr. E. Jane Adam, who chairs one of the Technology Appraisal Committees of the UK...
Country Focus: Egypt
Putting Patients in the Driving Seat
A Digital Future for HealthcareThe European Commission has unveiled an action plan to address barriers to the full use of digital solutions in Europe's healthcare systems. The goal is to improve healthcare for the benefit of patients, give patients more control of their care and bring down costs. While patients and health professionals are enthusiastically using telehealth solutions and millions of European...
Portable X-Ray Source Could Put Medical Diagnosis in the Palm of the Hand
Photo credit: Peter Norgard, University of Missouri A University of Missouri (MU) engineering team has invented a compact source of X-rays and other forms of radiation. The radiation source, which is the size of a stick of chewing gum, could be used to create inexpensive and portable X-ray scanners for use by doctors, as well as to fight terrorism and aid exploration on this planet and others....
Association News
MIR@ECR
Management in Radiology (MIR) will once again present a half day symposium at Europe’s leading medical imaging conference, the European Congress of Radiology in Vienna in March. The MIR symposium on Saturday 9 March 2013 is vital for the radiologist interested in leadership and management.The 2013 symposium will cover innovation management, leadership, the future of radiology Draft Programme 13:...
CIRSE 2013
Abstract submissions for CIRSE 2013 close on 15 February 2013. CIRSE 2013 will be held September 14-18 in Barcelona, Spain. CIRSE 2013, Europe‘s most comprehensive forum for minimally invasive image guided therapy, will offer more than 250 hours of educational and scientific presentations, including hands-on workshops, foundation courses, learning centres, industry symposia, an all-electronic...
ECIO 2013
The fourth European Conference on Interventional Oncology takes place in Budapest, Hungary, June 19-22, 2013. ECIO Congress will now be an annual event, to reflect the rapid rate of progress in the field. ECIO 2013 will include double the number of hands-on workshops, for which pre-registration is recommended. A highly productive feature of ECIO has been the “Bring Your Referring Phys...
GEST EUROPE 2013
The Global Embolization Symposium and Technologies Europe conference will be held May 1-4 in Prague, Czech Republic. Embolotherapy, performed by interventional radiologists, occupies a central and unique role in patient care. Among the many conditions treated with embolization are uterine fibroids,vascular malformations, blunt and penetrating trauma, and gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The indica...
Connectathon 2013
The annual European testing event for healthcare IT interoperability, known as the IHE Connectathon, will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from April 15 to 19, at the Halic Congress Center. Connectathon 2013 will bring healthcare interoperability to the edge of Europe with the ambition to reach further, attracting new participants from the Middle East, as suggested by this year's theme "Connect wh...
2013 CARS Congress
The Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery(CARS) congress is the yearly event for scientists, engineers and physicians to present and discuss the key innovations that shape modern medicine on a worldwide basis. The 27th International Congress and Exhibition on Computer Assisted Radiology Congress Organizing Committee will be held in Heidelberg, Germany from 26 - 29 June 2013. This remarkable...
COCIR Welcomes EC EHealth Action Plan
COCIR, as the voice of the European Radiological,Electromedical and Healthcare IT industry has welcomed the European Commission’s new eHealth Action Plan, entitled ‘Innovative healthcare for the 21st century’ as it provides a comprehensive roadmap for smart and sustainable healthcare in Europe. COCIR is pleased to note that the four pillars of the eHealth Action Plan - (1) Achieve wider i...
EuroPACS at Upcoming Congresses
Two refresher courses in Computer Applications will be offered at the European Congress of Radiology in Vienna in March 2013. RC 305: New PACS architecture: decoupling image management from image navigation RC 1605: Improving workflow efficiency and quality EuroPACS Annual Meeting Programme The 31st Annual Meeting of EuroPACS will be held at CARS, June 26-29, 2013, Heidelberg, Ge...
Technology Appraisal
Health Technology Appraisal and Radiology
Radiologists have become experts in evidence-based medicine. Both they and their clinical colleagues who refer patients for diagnostic tests wish to do their best for patients: to provide them with the diagnostic test or tests perceived or proven to have a high sensitivity and specificity for a particular diagnosis, and to proceed with a treatment plan based on as certain a diagnosis as possible. Info...
Ultrasound
How to Maximise the Use of Ultrasound in the Radiology Department
Demand for general ultrasound (US) examinations is increasing by approximately 7.9% per year (Society of Radiographers 2009). Combined with shrinking funds, inadequate resources and waiting list targets this puts a lot of pressure on the radiology departments. To solve the challenging task of providing timely, quality examinations radiology departments need to work harder and/or smarter. In informal i...
Nuclear Medicine
Trick or Treatment
Access to powerful drugs for personalised medicine is hampered by EU legislation that is creating a radiopharmaceutical lottery, argues the EANM's Dr Clemens Decristoforo. Advances in drug developments and new insights into genetics and the diversity of diseases – in particular cancers – have generated a trend towards personalised medicine: using drugs and treatments ideally suited for an individu...
Matrix
Getting Ahead by Getting Along
Managing Challenging Conversations in the Radiology Department Many guides to effective leadership in radiology and other disciplines in medicine concentrate on structure. How the department should be organised and how authority should be delegated are frequently addressed. Other advice dispensers rightly focus on the formation and implementation of the realisation of your mission. Their purpose is to pr...
Congress Review
IMAGING Management’s Review of the 2012 RSNA Meeting
More than 53,000 delegates descended on Chicago in November for the 98th Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting 2012. As well as scientific research, the future of radiology was a common theme, with new applications of technology, clinical research and the need for radiologists to become more visible all covered. Putting Patients First: Rhetoric or Responsibility? “Pati...