127 Years of New Orleans Radiology: The Evolution of Practice and Those Who Led It.

The history of New Orleans radiology helps us understand how innovative medical ideas are transmitted and adopted and how the specialty evolved to incorporate these new ideas. As radiology became a required component of medical practice, additional expertise was needed. This resulted in the need for standardized specialized training and the necessity for some form of certification.

The Early History of New Orleans Radiology and Its Practitioners.

Wilhelm Roentgen's discovery of the x-ray in late 1895 was relatively quickly shared with the New Orleans community through reports published in 1896 in local newspapers and medical journals. Radiology became popularized through public demonstrations organized by local proponents and was open to both the lay and medical communities. The first clinical x-ray equipment in New Orleans was installed at Charity Hospital in 1896 within the Department of Surgery, and the first examination was performed on December 23, 1896.

Medical workforce in the United States.

This section focuses on the professional workforce comprised of the primary medical specialties that utilize ionizing radiation in their practices. Those discussed include the specialties of radiology and radiation oncology, as well as the subspecialties of radiology, namely diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, nuclear radiology, and nuclear medicine. These professionals provide essential health care services, for example, the interpretation of imaging studies, the provision of interventional procedures, radionuclide therapeutic treatments, and radiation therapy.

Ultrasound Stratification of Hepatic Steatosis Using Hepatorenal Index.

Unlabelled: Hepatorenal index (HRI) has been shown to be an effective, noninvasive ultrasound tool to screen patients for those with or without >5% hepatic steatosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to further refine this HRI tool in order to stratify patients according to their degree of liver steatosis and give direction as to which patients should undergo random liver biopsy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 267 consecutive patients from 2015 to 2017 who had abdominal ultrasounds and a subsequent random liver biopsy within one month.

The utility of the fronto-temporal horn ratio on cranial ultrasound in premature newborns: a ventriculomegaly marker.

Background: The aims of this study were to find the normal value of fronto-temporal horn ratio (FTHR) as a marker of ventriculomegaly on cranial ultrasound (CUS) in premature newborns and the relation to white matter injury (WMI) and cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: This is a retrospective study of newborns admitted between 2011 and 2014. Inclusion criteria were: (1) gestation <29 weeks, (2) birth weight ≤1500 g, (3) referred within 7 days of life, (4) at least two CUS preformed, (5) brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term age-equivalent.

Differential rates of progression of low-grade carotid stenosis detected by follow-up ultrasound: A single institution experience.

Objectives: The growing body of evidence suggesting that lifestyle changes and aggressive medical management reduce the risk of strokes in patients with carotid stenosis has fostered interest in noninvasive screening. The objective of this study was to develop recommendations for follow-up carotid ultrasound surveillance of patients with <60% carotid stenosis.

Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study includes 2956 patients seen between August 1998 and March 2015 in 4440 visits.

The Late-Career Radiologist: Options and Opportunities.

More than 25% of the present radiology workforce, or nearly 8300 radiologists, are actively practicing late-career radiologists. While these individuals could decide to retire from active practice, their continued presence in the workforce helps to maintain adequate and appropriate patient imaging services. To ensure their continued participation, issues important to all late-career radiologists need to be appreciated, discussed, and addressed.

Comparison of Utilization of the Family and Medical Leave Act in Radiology Practices Between 2015 and 2016.

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess utilization of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in radiology practices in 2016 and compare with 2015 utilization.

Materials And Methods: The Practice of Radiology Environment Database was used to identify practice leaders, and these leaders were asked to complete the annual American College of Radiology Commission on Human Resources workforce survey. The 2017 survey, which asked about 2016 experiences, again included questions about the number of radiologists in each practice who took FMLA, reasons why, and how absences were covered.

Musculoskeletal Injuries Affecting Radiologists According to the 2017 ACR Human Resources Commission Workforce Survey.

Practice leaders surveyed in the 2017 ACR Human Resources Commission workforce survey reported that 25% of the radiologists or radiation oncologists they supervised had neck pain, 32% had low back pain, and 16% were dealing with a repetitive stress injury. The prevalence rates of these musculoskeletal ailments among radiologists and radiation oncologists were consistent with those reported in the literature in other populations. However, these prevalence rates may be underestimated because practice leaders, not the radiologists themselves, were surveyed, and the leaders may not be aware of all injuries.

The 2017 ACR Workforce Survey: Management Trends and Strategic Needs.

The 2017 ACR Workforce Survey included questions for group leaders about management trends and areas in which they need more help from the ACR. Respondents identified point of care ultrasound as the area in which they need the most help. Most respondents gave positive or neutral answers regarding their role in the management of radiology allied health professionals and radiology information technology, and most believed their role and influence in decision making in the organization were not decreasing.

The use of clinical examination and cranial ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilation in extremely premature infants.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe clinical and ultrasound changes in a cohort of premature newborns with post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilation (PHVD), and to correlate these changes with outcome.

Study Design: Premature newborns <29 weeks gestational age (GA) and ≤ 1,500 g birth weight with intraventricular hemorrhage were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical signs and cranial ultrasound (CUS) findings between time after birth and time before first cerebrospinal fluid temporizing intervention were compared with GA-equivalent newborns without interventions.

Recommendations for Low-Grade Carotid Stenosis Follow-up Based on a Single-Institution Database.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidences and rates of progression of varying degrees of carotid stenosis that do not require intervention according to the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study, the European Carotid Surgery Trial, and the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial, and from this information, to provide evidence-based recommendations for follow-up imaging.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all carotid ultrasound examinations performed at a single institution from January 1995 through April 2015. Examinations following endarterectomy or stenting were excluded.

Work-Related Injuries of Radiologists and Possible Ergonomic Solutions: Recommendations From the ACR Commission on Human Resources.

Increasingly, radiologists' workplaces revolve around PACS and digital imaging. Use of these technologies can lead to repetitive strain injuries, many of which can be exacerbated by specific features of a radiology practice environment. Ergonomic approaches, such as proper reading room structure, lighting, temperature, noise, and equipment setup, can help decrease the frequency and severity of repetitive strain injuries and improve radiologist productivity.

The 2017 ACR Commission on Human Resources Workforce Survey.

Purpose: The ACR Commission on Human Resources conducts an annual workforce survey to determine the makeup of the radiology workforce and to identify potential plans for hiring new staff in an attempt to understand our profession better.

Methods: The Practice of Radiology Environment Database group leaders were asked to complete an electronic survey regarding the makeup of their present workforce by subspecialty, as well as the numbers and types of subspecialists hired in 2016 and the numbers and types of subspecialists expected to be hired in 2017 and 2020. They were also asked about midlevel practitioners.