World radiology round-up
by Brendon Nafziger, DOTmed News Associate Editor | November 08, 2010
In this edition, Google honors X-ray's 115th anniversary. Radiographers call off a two-day strike. And an Irish hospital uncovers a backlog of nearly 60,000 X-rays.
Google honors X-ray's 115th anniversary
For this year's National Radiologic Technology Week, even Google's getting in on the action. On Monday, Google honored the 115th anniversary of the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen by changing the search engine's logo, known as the "Google Doodle," to an X-ray image.
On Nov. 8, 1895, Rontgen accidentally discovered X-rays after exposing a paper coated with barium patinocyanide to a charged Crookes tube.
Google frequently changes its logo. On May 22, it turned the "Doodle" into an interactive Pacman game to commemorate the arcade classic's 30th anniversary.
NZ Radiographers call off strike
A two-day strike of radiographers in New Zealand has been called off Monday after the group's union, Apex, agreed to meet with the country's district health boards on Tuesday.
The strike, over pay and conditions for radiologic techs, was to have run from 7 a.m. Tuesday to until the same time Thursday, Radio New Zealand reports.
Radiographers have already been carrying out various low-level strike actions since July, forcing the government health boards to rely on private practices for some scans, such as MRIs, Apex claims. But the full strike would have caused hundreds of exams and surgical procedures reliant on radiology to be postponed or canceled, according to local reports.
In a press release issued on Monday, Apex said it would push for fairer negotiations with the publicly run health boards.
Irish hospital slammed for backlog of nearly 58,000 X-rays
One of Ireland's largest hospitals was slammed by a government report for failing to report on tens of thousands of backlogged X-rays.
An inquiry blamed a severe shortage in radiologists for the backlog of nearly 58,000 X-rays at the Tallaght Hospital in Dublin. Nearly 3,500 referral letters were also opened but not processed, according to the report released last week.
The investigation, chaired by Dr. Maurice Hayes, said that radiologists raised alarms more than 30 times between 2005 and 2009 about problems with the reports and difficulties with hospital IT systems.
While the X-rays were all read, at least half should have been reported on under revised health service guidelines, the report said.
No adverse events were linked to the 57,921 backlogged X-rays, the report said. However, in cases outside the current review, two patients had a diagnosis delayed as a result of the slow reporting. One patient has since died and the other is undergoing cancer treatment, according to Irish Health.
"Tallaght is a fine hospital, well regarded in the area, with talented, dedicated and committed staff," the report said. "They also deserve good governance, effective leadership, firm direction and a period of stability so that the Hospital can fulfill its full potential."
The inquiry was launched after Irish news agency RTE News reported on the backlog in March.
Google honors X-ray's 115th anniversary
For this year's National Radiologic Technology Week, even Google's getting in on the action. On Monday, Google honored the 115th anniversary of the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen by changing the search engine's logo, known as the "Google Doodle," to an X-ray image.
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Google frequently changes its logo. On May 22, it turned the "Doodle" into an interactive Pacman game to commemorate the arcade classic's 30th anniversary.
NZ Radiographers call off strike
A two-day strike of radiographers in New Zealand has been called off Monday after the group's union, Apex, agreed to meet with the country's district health boards on Tuesday.
The strike, over pay and conditions for radiologic techs, was to have run from 7 a.m. Tuesday to until the same time Thursday, Radio New Zealand reports.
Radiographers have already been carrying out various low-level strike actions since July, forcing the government health boards to rely on private practices for some scans, such as MRIs, Apex claims. But the full strike would have caused hundreds of exams and surgical procedures reliant on radiology to be postponed or canceled, according to local reports.
In a press release issued on Monday, Apex said it would push for fairer negotiations with the publicly run health boards.
Irish hospital slammed for backlog of nearly 58,000 X-rays
One of Ireland's largest hospitals was slammed by a government report for failing to report on tens of thousands of backlogged X-rays.
An inquiry blamed a severe shortage in radiologists for the backlog of nearly 58,000 X-rays at the Tallaght Hospital in Dublin. Nearly 3,500 referral letters were also opened but not processed, according to the report released last week.
The investigation, chaired by Dr. Maurice Hayes, said that radiologists raised alarms more than 30 times between 2005 and 2009 about problems with the reports and difficulties with hospital IT systems.
While the X-rays were all read, at least half should have been reported on under revised health service guidelines, the report said.
No adverse events were linked to the 57,921 backlogged X-rays, the report said. However, in cases outside the current review, two patients had a diagnosis delayed as a result of the slow reporting. One patient has since died and the other is undergoing cancer treatment, according to Irish Health.
"Tallaght is a fine hospital, well regarded in the area, with talented, dedicated and committed staff," the report said. "They also deserve good governance, effective leadership, firm direction and a period of stability so that the Hospital can fulfill its full potential."
The inquiry was launched after Irish news agency RTE News reported on the backlog in March.
