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Amanda Jekowsky , American College of
Cardiology, 202-375-6645, ajekowsk@acc.org
March
9, 2009
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS
QUALITY EFFORTS TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE USE OF MEDICAL IMAGING
ACC Responds to Report on Medical Radiation Exposure
of U.S. Population
Washington, DC (March 9, 2009) – Medical
radiation exposure of the U.S. population has increased more
than seven-fold since 1980, according to a recent National
Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP) report.
The report cites the dramatic increase in the use of imaging
technology to diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease and
other major illnesses as one of the leading causes of this
increase. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) commends
the NCRP for its focus on this important patient safety issue.
Unfortunately, attempts have been made to link the report’s
findings to ownership or leasing of imaging equipment by non-radiologist
physicians.
“Medical radiation exposure is a concern of everyone
who relies on imaging technology, which is why we spend considerable
time and effort in our training programs ensuring that cardiologists
are cognizant of the dangers of radiation exposure and know
how to reduce it,” says ACC President Douglas Weaver,
M.D., F.A.C.C. “The ACC has also worked with the American
College of Radiology (ACR) to find ways to eliminate unnecessary
and inappropriate procedures and ensure that patients receive
the most ideal cardiac diagnostic and treatment procedures
possible. The argument that someone other than the specialist
caring for a patient will make a better decision about whether
a test should be done is a thinly veiled attempt to protect
‘turf.’ Worse, it will neither lower utilization
nor guarantee that patients are receiving the right test,
in the right setting, at the right time.”
Medical technology has evolved to provide critical support
to skilled patient care. Advanced technologies that did not
exist a decade ago are now key tools in the prompt and efficient
diagnosis and treatment of disease. The ACC is a leader in
the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines,
and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The
ACC has worked with ACR and other specialty societies to ensure
the quality and safety of these technologies by developing
an array of quality-improvement tools, such as:
- Fellow Training Guidelines;
- Clinical Use Guidelines;
- Clinical Competency Statements;
- Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for each cardiac imaging
modality;
- Physician Certification;
- Laboratory Accreditation;
- National Registries.
“We are taking a patient-centered approach to apply
the best science at the point of care,” said Kim Allan
Williams, M.D., F.A.C.C., chair of ACC’s Imaging Council.
“Using the issue of radiation exposure to take a swipe
at self-referral is unfortunately nothing more than a form
of medical protectionism – more concerned with pocketbooks
than with patients.”
The ACC is currently piloting the use of its AUC in practices
and has committed to reducing inappropriate imaging by 15
percent. Past studies have shown that monitoring and education
are the primary ways to ensure appropriate imaging, not limiting
who performs the test.
“In 2007, 97 percent of CT scans were performed by
radiologists and 0.6 percent by cardiologists,” says
Weaver. “This appears to be an overall issue of utilization,
not self-referral.”
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The American College of Cardiology is leading the way to optimal
cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College is
a 36,000-member nonprofit medical society and bestows the
credential Fellow of the American College of Cardiology upon
physicians who meet its stringent qualifications. The College
is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards
and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular
research. The ACC provides professional education and operates
national registries for the measurement and improvement of
quality care. More information about the association is available
online at www.acc.org .
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) provides these news
reports of clinical studies published in the Journal of
the American College of Cardiology as a service to physicians,
the media, the public and other interested parties. However,
statements or opinions expressed in these reports reflect
the view of the author(s) and do not represent official policy
of the ACC unless stated so.
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