Getting Ready for New Imaging Tools

Like other information technologies, radiology informatics is rapidly innovating. In the next five years, radiologists will enjoy better resolution and brightness of displays, as well as greater storage, networking, and processing power, says Paul Nagy, PhD, an associate professor of radiology and director of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Technology Innovation Center.  Moore’s Law will continue to march along.

In the third of three refresher sessions starting at 10:00 on Dec. 4, Nagy will discuss the current state of radiology IT and coming innovations. These will include changes in technology that will allow radiologists to conduct real-time visual remote consultations with referring physicians.  This will allow the radiologist to be more engaged with the patient care team and develop stronger relationships.

That brings the need for new tools for radiology information systems to further assist in better care coordination, such as being able to extract findings from reports and track follow-up treatment, Nagy says. For instance, if an incidental finding during the reading of an exam shows suspicions of cancer being present, the patient and an oncologist could quickly be notified.

Nagy will walk through a checklist of the types of technology coming and how radiologists can prepare to handle the changes, which he says can become a competitive advantage. The session is RCC51C, “The Road Ahead in Radiology Informatics.”