Here is some recent feedback we received from readers of Axis Imaging News. 

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Dear Editor,

I enjoyed reading the article “No more Exceptions” by Kurt Woock.  I agree with Dr. Sherman that removing the IOASE would cause a great deal of disruption to the care that physicians are able to efficiently provide patients. I know the American College of Radiology views the IOASE as a loophole that can lead to unnecessary utilization by physicians with financial conflicts of interest.

However, I have never heard anyone discuss the exemption that radiologists are afforded. In particular, interventional radiologists run outpatient clinics and refer these patients to imaging/intervention centers that they own. Seems to me this is the same conflict of interest, but one group thinks they are above reproach.

Thank you,

Craig W. Carson, MD

Owner

Oklahoma Arthritis Center

1701 South Renaissance Blvd., Suite 110

Edmond, OK  73013

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Ms. Matthews,

Thank you very much for mentioning Princeton Radiology’s innovative SmartMamm initiative in your commentary in the recent issue of Axis Imaging News.  As I’m sure you can imagine, Gail Schwartz and the team at Marketing Works have been very helpful to us as we promote our imaging services to potential patients in our community. The SmartMamm service with the Gail scores has been particularly well-received by patients and referring physicians, leading to more educated and informed stakeholders, and hopefully better healthcare outcomes. We truly believe that we are providing an added value to our patients while benefiting from the increased mammography volumes, an example of doing well by doing good. In the near future, we plan to make SmartMamm even smarter as we standardize the inclusion of breast density data as a part of our mammography reports.

Very truly yours,

Marc Rothenberg

Chief Operating Officer

Princeton Radiology

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Dear Ms. Matthews,

I read with interest your commentary in the October issue of Axis Imaging News. In particular you mentioned that Princeton Radiology has debuted a branded mammogram called SmartMamm in which they include a free risk assessment score using the Gail model. Our practice implemented the addition of a free risk assessment in our breast imaging reports a number of years ago, starting with the Gail model. However, after some research we switched to the Tyrer-Cuzick model as it is weighted more toward genetic risk factors and is considered more applicable to breast cancer screening recommendations. While we have not used this as a marketing tool, we do make recommendations for breast MRI screening in our breast imaging reports for those women with an estimated lifetime risk of greater than 20%, as recommended by the American Cancer Society and other organizations.

Sincerely,

Craig Hanson, M.D.

Medical Director

UW Medicine

Seattle Breast Center

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