Transcript Process Improvement in Diagnostic Imaging

Innovations and
Opportunities in HealthCare
Jay Mazurowski
Radiology Director
Concord Hospital
The Future is Now!
Real Rewards
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One of the most fulfilling rewards of a
healthcare career is the personal
satisfaction that comes with being part
of a professional team and helping
others. A career in healthcare also
offers competitive pay, signing
bonuses, and other financial incentives
to attract new employees and retain
current staff. Every day healthcare
professionals can make a difference in
someone’s life
Career Choices
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Physician
Physician’s Asst.
Nursing
Physical Therapy
Medical Technology
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Biomedical Technician
Surgery Technician
Radiologic Technology
Radiation Therapist
Respiratory Therapy
Career Choices in
Radiology
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X-Ray
Technologist
CT Technologist
Sonographer
Nuclear Medicine
Technologist
MRI Technologist
Mammographer
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Special Procedures
Technologist
Radiation Therapist
Radiology Nurse
Radiology Manager
Systems (PACS)
Administer
Radiography
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A radiograph (x-ray) is the end result of an exacting
technical procedure. Each phase of this procedure
must be carried out with care to obtain the greatest
possible information concerning the anatomic details
of the structures for the purpose of demonstrating the
absence of, or the presence of, traumatic or pathologic
changes.
Radiography
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Technologists must possess a thorough knowledge of
anatomy, physiology, and osteology in order to obtain
radiographs that demonstrate the desired body part.
Technologists must have an understanding of all body
systems and the functions of each.
Mammography
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Mammography is perhaps the single most
important innovation in breast cancer control.
The importance of mammography is directly
related to its value in the early detection and
management of breast cancer.
Mammography detects approximately 2-3 times
as many early breast cancers as physical exams.
CT Scanning
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A CT scan is the process
of creating cross-sectional
images of any part of the
body. During the exam, a
thin x-ray beam scans
multiple points about the
periphery of the body part.
A computer then
reconstructs the data
creating two-dimensional
x-ray images or "slices.”
CT Scanning
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CT examinations compliment other imaging exams
such as x-ray films by offering physicians an additional
tool in which to view anatomy. In some cases, CT
provides diagnostic information that cannot be
achieved with any other method.
M.R.I.
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MRI is one of the most
significant advances in
medical imaging this
century. It allows physicians
to see inside the human
body with remarkable detail.
MRI does not use X-rays to
create images. Instead, it
combines magnetic fields
with radio waves and uses
specially designed
computers to produce
detailed images of internal
body structures.
M.R.I.
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While X-rays may be best for showing bones,
doctors use MRI to examine "soft" tissue such as
muscle, nerves, cartilage, ligaments, tendons,
vertebral discs and various internal organs.
Ultrasound
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Diagnostic Ultrasound - sometimes called medical
sonography, is a non-radiation imaging technique used to
help see inside the body. With this procedure, a sound
wave is transmitted into the body which causes an “echo.”
The echo, which can be thought of as a signal, is then
transformed into a diagnostic image. Ultrasound is an
especially helpful imaging tool in the areas of: OB/GYN,
abdominal studies, and vascular & heart disease.
Nuclear Medicine
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During Nuclear Medicine exams, a tiny amount of
radioactive material, called radionuclides are introduced
into the body either orally or through a vein. The
radionuclides produce a signal which is then detected by
specialized imaging equipment. All traces of the
radionuclide disappears from the body in anywhere from
just a few hours to a few days.
Nuclear Medicine
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Generally speaking, while x-rays, MRI, CT
scans and ultrasound exams show the
structure of various body systems, Nuclear
Medicine shows how the body systems
function.
P.E.T.
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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an imaging
technique that examines the biological origins of disease
so that illness may be diagnosed and treated at an earlier
stage and more effectively. PET allows physicians to
visualize the patient's whole body with just one scan. This
scan is able to identify areas with increased activity. Whole
body PET imaging identifies abnormalities that might
otherwise go undetected and guides physicians to the
most appropriate treatment for the disease to which it is
applied.
P.E.T.
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The patient receives an intravenous injection of a simple
sugar glucose which has a minute amount of a radioactive
tracer. Once the radioactive compound is distributed
through the body and processed by the organ being
studied, the PET scanner detects the radioactivity and
shows it as an image on a video screen.
Angiography
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Angiography is a general term that describes the
radiologic examination of vascular structures within
the body - after the introduction of a contrast
medium.
Angiography
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Blood vessels are not normally seen in conventional
radiography (x-rays) because no natural contrast
exists between them and other adjacent soft tissues in
the body. It is therefore, necessary to fill vessels with a
radiopaque contrast medium (x-ray dye), so they can
be seen under x-ray.
Cardiac Cath
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Cardiac Catheterization is a broad term used
to describe a minor surgical procedure that
involves the introduction of a catheter into the
heart and surrounding vessels for the purpose
of diagnostic evaluation of a variety of
cardiovascular disorders.
Like Angiography the introduction of a
contrast medium (x-ray dye) is necessary in
order that vessels may be seen under x-ray.
PACS
Image modalities
CT
Archive
Remote Facilities
MRI
Remote
M.O.B.’s
Database
and Workflow
Engine
Internet VPN
Hospital Workstations
with Voice Recognition
Remote
Workstations for
Primary Diagnosis
Choices and Freedoms
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Most healthcare professions require a
higher level of education while some
merely require on the job training.
Healthcare allows you the freedom to
choose where you work and live
Healthcare professionals work in a variety
of settings such as hospitals, clinics,
insurance companies, physician practices,
nursing homes, research centers and
schools.
Want to learn more?
 Contact
your local hospital
 Talk with your local college
The Future is Now!
Thank You!