Affordable Care Act and Radiology

The affordable care act has been met with both favorable and not so favorable reviews. One interesting thing to question is what the affordable care act may mean for Radiology on an academic level. We know about the tax on medical devices but that’s a different story altogether.

Academic radiology departments are looking at possibly taking new approaches in terms of what’s a necessity for lower volume and higher quality. Some of the newer approaches are the following:

1. Appropriate utilization: Academic radiology departments can provide support to referring physicians for determining when imaging is appropriate.
2. Radiation dose control: ACA will probably increase the volume of imaging orders, and radiologists will need to know which tests to use at the most efficient radiation dose.
3. Reimbursement changes: Although the current fee-for-service model will continue in some form under ACA, new payment models such as bundled payments and pay for performance are gaining ground.
4. Medical informatics: ACA will spark increased use of imaging informatics to track quality, safety, productivity, scheduling, billing, and feedback from patients and referring physicians.
5. Accountable care organizations (ACOs): As ACA is implemented; these groups will play a key role in the effort to curb inappropriate imaging.

This approach from Academic Radiology will certainly help a great deal in part because of the following reasons:

1. Radiation control, as radiation is controlled there is less concern of over exposure and far more focus on quality imaging.
2. Pay for performance actually increases the level of pressure on Radiologists to perform with the utmost care and attention to detail.
3. With ACOs curbing the inappropriate use of imaging there is likely to be so many complaints about so many bills and such little results.

Hopefully these improvements will mean that the patient will properly benefit and be protected from overexposure. While it’s difficult to say if these implications are long term or short term, it’s good to hope for something that will give patients the best service possible.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures please feel free to give us a call. Our dedicated team of imaging experts here at Clermont Radiology looks forward to answering all your questions. We here at Clermont Radiology pride ourselves in providing our patients the best quality imaging with a focus on satisfaction and results.

Charla Hurst

General Operations Manager

Charla@ClermontRadiology.com  
352-241-6100 

www.ClermontRadiology.com  

Breast Cancer and Aging

One day you go in to get a mammogram and you find out you have breast cancer. The diagnosis explains why you may be feeling weaker; perhaps some unexplained pain as a result of an unusually bothersome lump. Although lumps are not always painful, to have one, and discover it is cancer can really get inside your head. Breast cancer will affect one in every eight women and ultimately it will have a lagging effect on everyone, not just a woman affected by it.

Breast cancer is not a certain death sentence as it was before advocacy became a big part of the fight against the disease. There are several areas outside of a woman’s physical well being affected by breast cancer and those areas are:

• Family
• Mental Health
• Diet
• Regular Habits

Having breast cancer is a serious challenge; even having an early stage of breast cancer is a major problem. During the early stages a woman’s fear may originate from not knowing whether or not treatment will be effective. There is also a major concern; will the treatment use create an unexpected reaction in the individual? In the end there are so many concerns that they start to have a negative and stressful effect on the woman.

To imagine that you may die and leave loved one behind is a source of stress and feeling like everything has to change. Unfortunately the tolls on mental health are debilitating. It’s not that breast cancer will drive a patient to madness so much as the fact that it will make a patient feel like there’s very little about life that’s positive.

Breast cancer at any stage seems to age women at a fairly rapid rate. The multiple procedures coupled with the treatment that can expand from hormone therapy the chemo therapy and radiation therapy. What ages a woman is not just the therapy but also the stress. Stress and concern over what things may come is a big part of may serve as an aide to aging.

While aging is a natural process it’s vital to a breast cancer patient’s well being not to allow stress and nerves to speed up the process. If you are concerned about possibly having breast cancer, make sure to get your mammograms and also to engage in self exams. It’s vital to ask questions and be aware of the facts of breast cancer. Aging quicker as a result of breast cancer can only worsen the effect of the disease.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures such as the mammogram please feel free to give us a call. Our dedicated team of professionals looks forward to answering your questions and aiding you in all your diagnostic imaging needs.

Charla Hurst

General Operations Manager

Charla@ClermontRadiology.com  
352-241-6100 

www.ClermontRadiology.com  

Radiation’s Effects on the Kids, According to the UN

As far as diagnostic imaging is concerned the big concern is radiation. The effects of radiation are serious and can be potentially harmful depending on the patient’s manner of responding. One major concern is the effect of radiation on children, and it has been for years. To make it clear children are not likely to develop cancer from a single procedure, but repeat procedures over a short period can have negative side effects in the future.

This is a particularly difficult situation especially when you consider the fact that often times radiation levels determine image quality. While there have been concentrated efforts to work on radiation dosage, it’s very important to understand where the lines are drawn. A recent study by the UN released its findings as far as radiation and children is concerned.

The report stated “Because of their anatomical and physiological differences, radiation exposure has a different impact on children compared with adults” One particular note in the report made references to future to cancer. “The report finds that children are more susceptible to certain kinds of tumor types including leukemia, thyroid, brain and breast, although the risk is not always immediate and more likely to develop later in life.

The thing is that some studies have shown that there is a possibility that at least 29,000 future cases of cancer will be attributed to radiation exposure. The UN is exposing something that most everyone already knows. In releasing their report the UN has probably heightened the desire for greater efforts to reduce the usage of radiation without sacrificing image quality.

One thing is for certain, reactions are different from patient to patient. The UN studied 23 kinds of cancer. Radiation is necessary in order to put together an image. It doesn’t matter what the procedure, MRI, CT scan, or X-Ray, there is a form of radiation involved with all examinations. Hopefully this study coupled with the information already available will help curb the radiation issue.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures please give us a call. Our team of dedicated imaging professionals here at Clermont Radiology looks forward to answering all your questions and aiding you in your diagnostic imaging needs.

Charla Hurst

General Operations Manager

Charla@ClermontRadiology.com  

352-241-6100 

www.ClermontRadiology.com

References: http://www.dotmed.com/news/story/22319

Breast Cancer Can Make Difficulties Impossible

Breast cancer is no one’s ally; in fact breast cancer is the worst thing that can happen to any family. The problems are not just limited to the woman and her physical and emotional state. A family often times has to go through the difficult task of seeing someone battle through the difficult physical and emotional effects of breast cancer. As time goes on so too does the feeling that there’s very little that can be done blankets people’s emotions.

So, after the mammogram, what are some difficulties that we are likely to face? The patient can often face difficulties that are far greater than what’s expected. According to a scincedaily.com “Many older women with newly diagnosed breast cancer have difficulty accomplishing daily tasks, and African-Americans seem to be disproportionately affected. Those are the findings of a new study published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study's results suggest that many breast cancer patients could benefit from receiving therapy to improve their physical function.”

It’s sad to think that breast cancer can not only take a life but it can also hinder it in the process. Yes there are many myths about breast cancer but unfortunately there are also many well researched facts. This kind of discovery is part of the reason why it is vital to ensure that early detection becomes a key objective amongst all women.

The battle against breast cancer has progresses and it continues to improve, but even with all of this improvement there is a long way to go. There is a strong need for greater advocacy in areas such geographic location and demographics. The battle will rage on for a very long time to come and that can only mean continuous discoveries that are both favorable to the cure and counter to the cure.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures please feel free to give us a call. Our team of dedicated professionals here at Clermont Radiology looks forward to answering any questions you may have and aiding you in your diagnostic imaging needs.

Charla Hurst 

General Operations Manager

Charla@ClermontRadiology.com  
352-241-6100 

www.ClermontRadiology.com  

References: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130923093033.htm

Arterial Stiffness and Dementia

Dementia, along with Alzheimer’s disease, is one of the most difficult conditions that a person of advanced age can deal with. Dementia progressively takes a person’s memory and cognitive abilities away. The definition of dementia according to the mayo clinic is “a group of symptoms affecting thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning.” Eventually a patient cannot really function when stricken with dementia. It’s very important that we can see dementia coming, while it’s unavoidable, the sooner you know it’s there the sooner you can help delay some effects.

In a recent study it was shown that PET scans help detect a link between arterial stiffness and dementia. This was an interesting discovery when you think about the fact that the stiffening of the arteries is enough to show a likelihood of dementia setting in without the symptoms actually setting in. It was stated in an article by auntminnie.com that “Arterial stiffness appears to play a role in hypertension and the adverse effects it can have on the brain, including impaired cognitive function and dementia in older adults.” One thing that was noted was the fact that there is no known or clear relationship between arterial stiffness and beta amyloid deposition.

One thing that this is likely to set off is the possibility of greater screening among older patients. Memory loss is a common side effect of aging and in some cases it can be a far greater concern. Due to the fact that aging is a natural process there is not as great of a push as there should be with conditions like dementia simply because they cannot be reversed or cured. Perhaps with greater research in the field and more concentration on screening for the possibility of dementia there may be a way to discover how to slow the effects of the condition.

Chances are that there are many years before this happens. Part of the problem is going to be actually being able to take existing studies and further proving the relation between arterial stiffness and dementia. This discovery is a step in the right direction and it will aide in fighting dementia as well as Alzheimer’s disease.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures please feel free to give us a call. Our team of dedicated imaging professionals here at Clermont Radiology looks forward to answering all your questions and aiding you in all your imaging needs.

Charla Hurst General
Operations Manager

Charla@ClermontRadiology.com  
352-241-6100 

www.ClermontRadiology.com  

References: http://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=mol&pag=dis&ItemID=105141

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dementia/DS01131

The Peanut Butter Equation Factoring in Breast Cancer

Do you love to have the occasional peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Everyone loves a little peanut butter in just about anything. If you like m&m’s candy, try the peanut butter ones, same with anything else. Peanut butter is like life’s answer to all those difficult days we go through. So, how exactly does peanut butter fit into the breast cancer equation?

Let’s clear up what peanut butter doesn't do. Peanut butter is not used in mammograms, chemotherapy, or any manner of radiation therapy. Peanut butter is not pink, and it’s also not a medication prescribed by doctors. There is something about peanut butter that we all know and are fully aware of, it’s natural. Like the grapes that make red wine, considered an aide in the fight, peanut butter is made up of natural components.

According to an article published on usnews.com “Eating peanut butter regularly as a preteen and teen girl appears to decrease the risk of developing benign breast disease as an adult, new research has found.” While this is not a statement of fact on the effective nature of peanut butter, it is incredibly positive as far as developments go. As far as the study goes, 9000 females were followed over a 14 year period. The end result was a 39% reduction in the possibility of developing cancer. One thing that does need to be

According to the article it may well be the protein in foods that possesses the X factor. A big part of this study is to drive the point of giving teens peanuts and peanut butter as opposes to cookies and jaw breakers. Of course there is that particularly difficult subject of allergies. People with allergies to peanuts and nuts in general may not see this as an option. This is good where benign tumors are concerned, but avoiding any tumor benign or advanced, is always a great thing.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures please feel free to give us a call. Our dedicated team of professionals here at Clermont Radiology looks forward to answering your questions and aiding you in your diagnostic imaging needs.

Charla Hurst General
Operations Manager

Charla@ClermontRadiology.com  
352-241-6100 

www.ClermontRadiology.com  

References: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/09/27/can-eating-peanut-butter-cut-breast-cancer-risk-in-later-life

Screenings for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a lot like breast cancer in that it actually has a high incidence and mortality. By comparison to breast cancer, lung cancer is still a far more aggressive killer and often times far more difficult to control. A big question among patients and a big concern is whether or not screening can help.

The fact is that screening does help, the problem beyond that is the patient’s concern with the level of radiation used in the diagnostic imaging process and the frequency of the screening that’s done. It doesn’t matter the process, if it’s an X-Ray, MRI, or CT scan, radiology is always a part of the equation.

Currently there is a broad movement aimed at using less radiation and helping lower associated risks as well as still creating a good image. So your obvious question may be: “How does all of this valuable information relate to lung cancer and lung cancer screening?”  The answer to that is simple, it relates in two very important ways.

In order to battle lung cancer screening is very important, being able to uncover a tumor in its infancy and being able to battle it effectively is a major component of the equation. While screening has become synonymous with breast cancer, lung cancer still has a bit of a ways to in terms of having that type of association with screening. A patient at risk of lung cancer, or feeling like they may be at risk for any number of factors should be screened twice every year. A question that may be raised is “What about the radiation?”

Radiation is a concern in screening but low dosage CT scans performed twice every year increase early detection and decrease late stage diagnosis. A trial conducted with over 500,000 participants and conducted during a period of nearly two years reveals that incidences for high risk patients diminished with this type of frequent screening. This is a hugely promising development when you consider what it means in terms of such a strong manner of cancer.

While these developments do not really man that the battle has been won it’s good to know that a significant stride has been made. It may well be years before another significant hit is made against lung cancer. Until any new developments take place make sure to educate yourself on lung cancer and effective screening practices.

If you have any questions about diagnostic imaging procedures please feel free to give us a call. Our dedicated team of professionals here at Clermont Radiology is eager to answer any questions you may have and aide you in all your diagnostic imaging needs.

Charla Hurst General
Operations Manager

Charla@ClermontRadiology.com  
352-241-6100 

www.ClermontRadiology.com  

References: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1208962?query=oncology-hematology#t=article

http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/low-dose/two-low-dose-ct-annual-screenings-may-detect-early-lung-cancer