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Interventional Radiology Tech Jobs

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As an IR tech, you’re helping physicians by performing organ or body scans on patients. Contrary to open surgery, interventional radiology treats patients by using the least invasive techniques available which minimize risk, therefore, leading to less pain and reduced recovery time. Currently, IR tech jobs are available across the country.

With travel, staff, per diem and local IR tech job opportunities, we can help you reach your goals, whether that means hitting the road or staying close to home.

Employment Types For IR Techs

Featured nationwide interventional radiology jobs.

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I have been working for Aya since last August. My recruiter goes above and beyond for me, and makes things happen. He checks up on me. When I call, he answers. He keeps it real when I ask any questions. Tonya E. Healthcare Professional

What travel Interventional Radiology Tech jobs are open?

Packing up your personal belongings into a suitcase and hopping in a car, train or plane, gives you the opportunity to make a big impact in radiology departments across the country. You’ll get to work alongside some of the best physicians out there. Our traveling interventional radiology techs have said that they gain knowledge, experience and new skillsets after every assignment.

How can I find a permanent position for IR Tech jobs?

If you’re interested in finding a permanent interventional radiology tech job, our team of recruiters will fast track the process. We have strong relationships with hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide and can get you front-of-the-line access to their permanent IR tech positions. We’ll make the process a breeze and ensure you have all the support you need to find the right job for you.

What per diem Interventional Radiology Tech jobs are open?

PRN interventional radiology tech jobs are great. Amplify your income, pick up extra shifts, or create a schedule that fits your lifestyle. Maybe you’re looking to stay close to home? Our local contracts allow you to make an impact in your surrounding communities.

What Factors Can Influence A Permanent Interventional Radiology Tech Salary?

IR tech pay can vary. Facilities in the same city can offer different rates. At Aya Healthcare, we believe you should have as much information as possible when making career decisions as an IR tech, which is why you’ll have full visibility of pay once you log in to your Aya Healthcare account . Sort and filter your searches, then save them to be notified when the perfect per diem, local, permanent or travel IR tech job becomes available.

Are you ready to find an IR tech job that matches your personal and professional goals? If so, register now!

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How Can Travel Interventional Radiology Tech Jobs Accelerate Your Career?

Table of Contents

Interventional radiology (IR) tech jobs are not your typical healthcare roles. As a travel IR tech with Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health, you not only get to apply your skills in various settings but also have the chance to enhance your career. Along with top-notch career growth, you also enjoy better earning prospects and unique work experiences.

Travel Interventional Radiology Tech Jobs

Travel interventional radiology tech jobs are dynamic opportunities that unite two rewarding fields: radiology and travel healthcare. This unique fusion allows interventional radiology technologists to head to varying locations while honing their expertise by working in different health facilities.

These traveling professionals, often referred to as IR techs, work short-term assignments ranging from a few weeks to several months. Typically, the roles of an IR tech would include assisting doctors with interventional radiology procedures, thereby combining rewarding patient care with the innovative field of radiology.

The key appeal of travel interventional radiology jobs is the chance to boost one's professional growth through diverse experiences while enjoying the benefits of visiting new locations. This diversity of experience can be an asset, aiding in adapting to evolving radiology technologies and procedures in the future.

With an understanding of what travel interventional radiology tech jobs are, let's delve into the specifics of the job role and qualifications needed.

Role of a Travel Interventional Radiology Technologist

A travel interventional radiology technologist, often portrayed as the backbone of the radiology department, plays a crucial role in delivering vital healthcare services. They assist physicians in executing minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat an array of conditions.

Their job roles often include, but are not limited to:

• Operating imaging technology like X-ray, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance.
• Assisting radiologists during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Monitoring patient's vital signs during procedures.
• Administering intravenous (IV) injections and handling biopsy samples.
• Ensuring patient safety and comfort throughout procedures.

Beyond these technical tasks, travel IR techs also carry a set of non-clinical responsibilities. They often interact with patients, explaining the procedures and addressing their concerns, making quality patient care an equally essential skill set.

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Qualifications for a Travel Interventional Radiology Tech

Delving into the qualifications necessary for travel interventional radiology tech jobs, it is important to note that these professionals are highly trained in both radiology and patient care. Typically, an aspiring travel interventional radiologist should:

• Hold an associate degree or higher in radiology or a related field.
• Possess certification from a recognized body such as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists ( ARRT ).
• Have hands-on clinical experience working in an interventional radiology unit.
• Be capable of operating a range of imaging technology.
• Have sound knowledge of radiation safety.

Moreover, given the patients' role, excellent communication skills, empathy, and patient safety consciousness are equally crucial. Traveling set of roles also requires adaptability to new environments and the ability to acclimate quickly to new teams and protocols.

Who Hires For Travel Interventional Radiology Jobs?

The healthcare industry is dynamic and evolving, with an increasing demand for specialization. Hospitals, private practices, and healthcare agencies are among the major employers for travel interventional radiology techs.

Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health, for instance, offers a variety of travel interventional radiology jobs at top facilities nationwide. They provide competitive pay rates and the chance to learn in different medical environments, fostering both professional and personal growth.

Travel Interventional Radiology Career Growth

Travel interventional radiology tech jobs offer numerous pathways to career growth and development. The unique nature of these roles presents opportunities for personal and professional evolution, accelerating career progression in meaningful ways. These positions not only allow allied health professionals to expand their skill sets but also provide a platform for them to gain exposure to diverse healthcare settings and learn from influential experts in the field.

To fully appreciate the career growth possibilities in travel interventional radiology, it's essential to understand the demand for this role, how it broadens professional expertise and the unique experiences it offers.

The Demand For Traveling Interventional Radiology Techs

The demand for traveling interventional radiographers is high and continues to rise as more healthcare facilities recognize the advantages of interventional radiology. This sub-specialty of radiology is known for its minimally invasive procedures, offering unprecedented accuracy and recovery benefits to patients.

As a result, facilities across the country are increasingly requiring the services of traveling interventional radiologists. This demand provides substantial job security for those in the field and opens multiple doors for allied health professionals seeking opportunities for career advancement.

Moreover, with the exponential rise in demand, the field of interventional radiology promises lucrative rewards, with competitive salary packages and attractive benefits. This economic incentive serves as a significant driving factor for career growth in this field.

How can a Travel IR tech broaden their professional expertise?

Traveling as an interventional radiology tech provides a unique opportunity to broaden professional expertise in a multitude of ways. Some of these include:

• Continuous Learning: Working in different healthcare environments facilitates continuous learning and development. Exposure to unique patient cases, diverse protocols and techniques, and the latest medical technology enhance the practitioner's knowledge and skills.
• Adaptability: The ability to adapt to new environments, people, and situations is a crucial skill in today's healthcare arena. Traveling positions challenge individuals to acclimate to various environments quickly, thus strengthening this ability.
• Cultural Competence: Working in different regions can build cultural competence, an essential skill in today's globalized world. Understanding and respecting diversity is critical in healthcare to provide culturally competent and patient-centered care.

Progressively broadening one's professional expertise significantly contributes to career growth and positions one for success in the healthcare sector.

Experiences You Can Gain From Traveling Interventional Radiology Assignments

One of the most exciting aspects of travel interventional radiology jobs is the unique experiences they offer. These opportunities can greatly shape your career and personal life, enriching them in ways a static job might not.

Exploring different locations across the country, experiencing different healthcare setups, interacting with seasoned professionals, and witnessing the power of interventional radiology in diverse patient cases - are merely a few examples of the unique experiences one can gain.

Such experiences play a vital role in promoting personal and professional growth, thereby proving to be invaluable in the long run. Travel interventional radiology, therefore, offers an engaging way to fuel your career advancement while simultaneously quenching your thirst for exploration and learning.

Understanding the Salary of Travel Interventional Radiology Tech Jobs

In the healthcare industry, remuneration is a key consideration when choosing a career path, and understanding the salary opportunities associated with travel interventional radiology tech jobs is a fundamental step for those aspiring to be traveling interventional radiographers. While wages can differ depending on various factors, it's undeniable that the compensation package for professionals in interventional radiology is attractive.

Average Hourly Wages for IR Techs

To begin, let's delve into the typical salaries for interventional radiology technologists. The average hourly wage in this profession is approximately $33 , with an annual salary averaging around $65,000. However, these figures can shift substantially based on factors such as geographical region, level of experience, specialization, and the employer's scale.

Interventional radiology (IR) techs stationed in metropolitan cities characteristically report higher wages due to the increased cost of living and more robust demand for the service. Moreover, techs with a significant number of years in the field, specialization skills, and high levels of training and education tend to earn top-tier salaries.

How Wages Differ Between Regular and Travel IR Tech Positions

The financial perspective takes an exciting turn when you consider travel interventional radiology jobs. How do their wages stack up against regular IR tech positions? On average, travel IR techs earn a higher hourly wage than their stationary counterparts. This wage increase compensates for the peripatetic nature of the job, including the inherent challenges that come with consistent traveling, adjusting to new work environments, and potentially higher living costs.

Moreover, travel IR techs have the unique opportunity to increase their earnings through overtime pay. Often assigned to facilities experiencing a shortage of skilled staff or during peak periods, travel IR techs can leverage these high-demand situations to secure additional work hours, thereby augmenting their income significantly.

Additional Perks and Benefits Associated With Travel Positions

While the potentially increased wages are attractive, the benefits of travel interventional radiology tech jobs go far beyond monetary compensation. Traveling positions often come with a wealth of perks and benefits designed to support your career and your lifestyle. It's essential to remember that the value of these additional aspects should factor into your overall assessment of a travel IR tech position's compensation package. Here's a list of perks commonly associated with travel positions:

• Housing or Travel Stipends
• Insurance Options
• Ability to Choose Where You Live and Work

Every benefit you receive considerably adds to your overall compensation package and enhances the appeal of travel interventional radiology tech jobs. However, it's critical to thoroughly understand each component of the compensation package, including how it is structured, its tax implications, and how it aligns with your individual budgetary needs and lifestyle considerations.

A Day in the Life of a Travel Interventional Radiologist

As the field of healthcare continues to evolve, so do the roles and workflows of different medical professionals. The interventional radiologist is no exception. In a bid to meet and surmount the unique challenges that come with travel interventional radiology tech jobs, it becomes important to understand what a typical day entails in this dynamic and fulfilling profession.

A Typical Day For an Interventional Radiologist Tech

The day of a traveling interventional radiographer often begins early, with a quick review of the day's schedule and interpreter instructions, if necessary. Ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the patient's diagnoses and procedural requirements forms a critical part of their morning readiness routine.

A hallmark of an interventional radiologist's daily schedule is the performing of minimally invasive procedures. They might be involved in vascular procedures, therapeutic embolization, biopsies, or other precise and complex medical procedures. This constitutes the major part of the schedule and is highly dependent on the specific requirements of each patient.

Post procedures, travel interventional radiology technologists frequently communicate with patients, explaining what procedures were performed, how they went, and what the next steps will be. The day usually wraps up with administrative tasks like documenting procedures, writing up any consultations, and reviewing schedules for the upcoming days.

Challenges Faced by Travel Interventional Radiology Techs

The noble task of providing quality radiology services across various hospitals and healthcare facilities comes with its unique set of challenges. Topping the list is the issue of frequent mobility - ensuring efficient transitioning from one medical facility to another is often not as smooth as it sounds. The travel interventional radiology technologist constantly needs to adapt to varying work environments and learn different hospital systems.

Another challenge faced by IR techs is maintaining a delicate balance between high-quality patient care and meeting the high-volume demand prevalent in most healthcare facilities. In a bid to serve as many patients as possible, the challenge of avoiding rushed procedures while also maintaining time efficiency comes to the fore.

Finally, every medical professional has a responsibility to stay abreast of the latest findings and innovations in their field; no less is expected of the interventional radiologist. However, the demanding schedule and frequent travel associated with these positions can often make continuous learning and career development more challenging.

Balancing Work and Life as a Travel IR Tech

Living on the road while maintaining a demanding professional role is a fine balance that requires strategic planning and an unwavering dedication to self-care. Travel interventional radiology jobs require professionals to establish a daily routine that accommodates their professional duties while allowing for relaxation and recuperation.

Keeping healthy and fit while on the road is also of great importance. Incorporation of exercises, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep into the daily routine helps maintain both physical and mental well-being whilst fulfilling demanding professional obligations. Furthermore, maintaining regular communication with family and friends can help alleviate the feelings of isolation that can sometimes accompany life on the road, thus bolstering emotional health.

Fostering strong relationships with on-site colleagues can often be a boon, both professionally and socially. Networking can lead to new opportunities and provide a sense of community and camaraderie that can make the many days spent away from home more enjoyable and fulfilling. Equally important is balancing ongoing professional development with personal time.

The life of a travel interventional radiology technologist is anything but predictable. But with the right strategies in place, the challenges can be navigated with grace and poise, leading to an enriching career that truly makes a difference in the lives of patients across the country.

Explore the Exciting and Fulfilling Career Path of a Travel Interventional Radiology Tech With Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health

Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health can connect skilled interventional radiology technicians like you with rewarding travel opportunities around the country. As a traveler-nominated top 10 allied health staffing agency, we understand your specific needs and the types of assignments travelers tend to look for.

Our recruiters will assist you with interventional radiology tech travel jobs that match your skills, experience, and unique career goals. Besides tailored job postings that are specifically for you, when you work with us, you'll also benefit from:

• A Full Circle of Support
• The flexibility to explore new areas on your day off
• Comprehensive health and wellness plans
• Competitive pay rates

When you're ready to see where travel interventional radiology tech jobs can take you, Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health will be there to guide you. Check out On Demand , our powerful web app, where you can search and apply for travel interventional radiology tech jobs nationwide.

What does a travel radiology tech do?

A travel radiology technologist performs diagnostic imaging examinations on patients, similar to a stationary radiology technician, but across various locations depending on where their assignments are. They work with a range of imaging technologies, including X-ray machines, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, among others.

Where is the highest-paid interventional radiologist?

The highest-paid interventional radiology tech will be in areas where there's the highest cost of living or a major metropolitan area.

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Interventional Radiology Travel Nursing Jobs

Jobs listing, interventional radiology job description.

The main goal of radiology nurses is patient safety. They monitor and assess patients, provide education to the patient and family members, ensure the patient and family members understand the procedure and plan of care, Insert and remove intravenous lines, administer conscious sedation drugs and other drugs, monitor patient patterns and vital signs during the procedure, and oversee the safety and comfort of patients before, during, and after procedures.

Interventional Radiology Job Requirements

• Active BLS from the American Heart Association
• Active professional license within the state of practice
• Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) credential is recommended and may be required for specific registered nurses and travel nurse positions
• Other specialty-related certifications are preferred and may be required for specific positions
• Experience as an oncology RN in a hospital setting
• Minimum of 2 years of experience as an RN

Benefits Of Traveling With Stability Healthcare

In the  United States , the average interventional radiology nurse income is  $79,944  per year or  $41  per hour. Starting salaries for entry-level employment start at  $58,839  per year, with the most experienced professionals earning up to  $122,560  per year.

Even so, when you factor in the financial benefits of traveling, such as bonuses, insurance, and travel and housing allowances, the compensation for traveling Interventional radiology jobs skyrockets. Pay for endoscopy travel nurses varies depending on the geographic region, facility, education, and experience.

Travel Nurse Salary & Benefits

Our Stability Healthcare recruiter will work with you to plan out various assignments for your travel career in advance. You get the following benefits with Stability Healthcare:

Health Insurance

Stability Healthcare incentives and benefits enhance Interventional Radiology Travel Nurse’s compensation. Such as:

• Day 1 Premium Insurance:   Starting on the first day of your assignment, you will be covered by premium insurance (medical, dental, vision, and life insurance).
• $15,000 Company-paid Life/ADD Insurance.

Financial Benefits

Yes, Travel Nurses can earn more money with various assignments. Still, the good news is that it’s not simply the money that attracts people to work as house supervisor travel nurses. With bonuses, extra shift compensation, stipends, and above-average compensation, travel nurses can significantly improve their earnings in a short period of time.

Stability Healthcare’s  incentives and advantages help interventional radiology travel nurses earn more money. Such as the following:

• PTO for All Nurses
• Travel Reimbursement
• Referral Bonuses
• Extra Hours Bonus
• Guaranteed Stipend
• Paid Compliance Costs

Career Benefits

If you apply to position yourself as a strong candidate for an interventional radiology      travel nurse career you will get many benefits .  Stability Healthcare’s   Interventional Radiology Travel Nurse jobs offer many benefits, such as:

• Nationwide Jobs
• Prestigious Facilities
• 401 (k) Plan
• Joint Commission Certified

Are you looking for an  Interventional Radiology Travel Nursing  career option?  Check our job opportunities  at Stability Healthcare and start a new step in your career!

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The response time from my recruiter and nurse specialist is amazing! They both have been so great to work with on my first assignment out in California!!! Chad and Samantha both are super caring and very responsive! I already extended my contract with the hospital because of the smooth process. They made the transition from Florida to California a lot loss stressful than I imagined. Would definitely recommend them both!!!

My recruiter, and other staff I have had the pleasure of interacting with, are all so friendly and helpful. My recruiter is responsive, and even reached out while she was on vacation to check on me! I’ve worked with other agencies in the past, but Stability is next level when it comes to making your travel nursing experience as seamless as possible! Special shout out to Lindsay (best recruiter ever) and Tracy. Amazing people to work with.

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Travel interventional radiology (IR) technologist frequently asked questions

Table of Contents

Travel interventional radiology technologists, also known as IR techs, are specialized radiology techs who assist interventional radiologists during minimally invasive procedures through modalities such as x-ray, fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT) , magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) , and ultrasound. Travel IR techs use their imaging skills to help guide targeted treatments and medical interventions.

The job outlook for travel interventional radiology technologists is bright. Travel IR techs are in demand not only because facilities are short staffed, but because travel IR technologists have an uncommon set of skills that can be difficult for facilities to staff appropriately. Additionally, the increase in minimally invasive medical procedures has led to an increased demand for interventional radiology techs.

At Nomad Health, we understand that IR tech travel jobs can be demanding, but incredibly rewarding too. That’s why we’re dedicated to removing obstacles for our travel interventional radiology techs, so they can thrive personally and professionally wherever they are. If you’re starting your travel journey, or want to learn more about what it’s like to be a travel interventional radiology tech, our guide is here to help.

What does a travel interventional radiology tech do?

Travel interventional radiology techs work in the forefront of cutting-edge technology to diagnose patients using advanced imaging equipment. Some travel IR techs operate a CT scanner, while others use fluoroscopy and x-ray. Flexibility and precise technical skills are the name of the game, and experienced travel interventional radiology techs know how to communicate and collaborate with diverse patients and other healthcare staff. There are multiple types of travel IR rad techs, each with specific certifications required. The job duties may vary between each, but the core responsibilities remain the same. Some of the routine tasks of travel interventional radiology techs include:

Equipment setup

Travel interventional radiology techs are responsible for ensuring all equipment and medical instruments are sanitized and ready to be used. They also turn on and calibrate imaging machines and adjust settings based on the procedure and medical concerns of the patient.

Safety protocols

Travel interventional radiology techs must ensure everyone in the procedure room is wearing the appropriate protective equipment to minimize radiation exposure, such as shields or lead aprons. They will also perform regular inspections to ensure equipment is operating safely and effectively.

Assisting radiologists

A travel interventional radiology tech’s primary job is to assist the radiologist in guiding medical instruments through the body of the patient using imaging technology. They will support the radiologist by operating equipment and administering contrast agents as needed to help with visualization.

Patient preparation

Travel IR techs regularly interact with patients before, during, and after procedures. They explain the procedure, answer patient questions, address concerns, and monitor the patient during the procedure. Post-procedure, Travel IR technologists will assist with immediate patient care tasks such as applying pressure to bleeding areas or removing catheters.

Collaboration and communication

Travel interventional radiology techs are responsible for documenting procedure and equipment details in patient medical records. They must also collaborate with other medical professionals such as techs, nurses, and doctors.

How much does a travel interventional radiology tech make?

The total compensation for travel interventional radiology techs depends on many different factors including location, experience, facility demand, education, and certifications. Travel interventional radiology techs earn a weekly total compensation of $74 per hour, including a travel stipend.

How do you become a licensed travel IR tech?

Complete educational requirements.

To become a travel IR tech, you’ll need at least a high school diploma before completing an associates or bachelors degree with an accredited radiologic technology program.

Pass certification exams and obtain your license

After you have attained your degree, you must pass the certification exam given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (AART) or other certified body. You’ll also need to obtain your state license as a radiologic technologist to start practicing. Keep in mind that as a travel IR tech, you will need state licenses for each state where you want to work. Travel IR techs may need to obtain certifications in vascular interventional radiology, cardiovascular interventional radiology, or another related field to specialize further.

Gain work experience

After you have your license and have passed your ARRT(R) certification, it’s time to gain one to two years of hands-on experience working as a radiologic technologist with the interventional radiology department, or take on a more general radiology tech role.

How long does it take to become a travel IR technologist?

The time it takes to become a licensed travel IR tech depends on a few different factors. First, whether or not you earn a two or four year degree can make an impact on how fast you can start gaining work experience in IR. Secondly, being prepared for your IR tech exam can help ensure you pass the first time without having to retest. In general, it takes around four to five years to become a travel IR tech, although everyone's trajectory is slightly different.

General timeline to become a travel IR tech

• Education: 2-4 years
• Certification and Licensing: 1 year
• Gaining experience: 1-2 years

Are travel interventional radiology technologists in high demand?

Yes, travel IR technologists are in high demand because of the specialized nature of their skills. Travel interventional radiology techs go through more training than other radiology specialties, preparing them to assist in diverse and complex procedures. Their understanding of the tools and equipment used makes their unique skill set hard to come by, but also extremely valuable to facilities.

What certifications do I need to be a travel IR technologist?

Certifications are an excellent way for travel IR techs to show their expertise and increase their skills. Most of these certifications are earned from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), the facility you work in, or in the state where you’ll be working.

Required travel IR tech certifications

There are three certifications that travel IR techs are required to have, including:

AART (R) Certification

This radiography certification is the first step to becoming a travel IR tech. Aspiring travel IR techs must pass the ARRT(R), or the primary radiography exam, at a minimum.

State licensure

After passing the AART certification exams and completing any state specific requirements, you will need to obtain your state license.

Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification

Most hospitals and facilities require travel IR techs to be certified in basic life support in the event of an emergency situation.

Optional but preferred travel IR tech certifications

There are some certifications for IR techs that are not always required, but are often preferred by facilities. Having one or more of these certifications in addition to the basic certifications can make you more appealing to facilities looking to hire travel IR techs.

The ARRT (VI), or vascular interventional radiography certification is often preferred and sometimes required for travel IR tech roles at facilities. This credential focuses on the use of fluoroscopy imaging for vascular procedures such as stenting and thrombolysis.

The AART (CI), or cardiac interventional radiography certification may be required and focuses on cardiac interventional procedures like angioplasty, stenting, thrombolysis, embolization, ablation, and biopsies.

The cardiovascular interventional radiography certification may be required and focuses on cardiovascular interventional procedures. Please note that the ARRT no longer issues new credentials for this certification, but some facilities may still accept it if previously issued.

The AART (CT), or computed tomography certification may be required and focuses on how to use computed tomography imaging equipment. Some IR labs require the skills of a travel radiology tech that is capable of performing CT scans during a procedure.

Travel IR technologist healthcare resources

• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). (n.d.). Home. Retrieved from https://www.arrt.org/
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). (n.d.). Cardiac Interventional Radiography - Postprimary. Retrieved from https://www.arrt.org/pages/resources/earn-additional-credentials/earn-additional-credentials-postprimary/cardiac-interventional-radiography
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). (n.d.). Vascular Interventional Radiography. Retrieved from https://www.arrt.org/pages/earn-arrt-credentials/credential-options/vascular-interventional-radiography
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). (n.d.). Radiography. Retrieved from https://www.arrt.org/pages/earn-arrt-credentials/credential-options/radiography
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). (n.d.). Computed Tomography. Retrieved from https://www.arrt.org/pages/earn-arrt-credentials/credential-options/computed-tomography

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Moscow Radiology: COVID-19 Preparedness and Action

• In Healthmanagement
• Thu, 22 Oct 2020

HealthManagement, Volume 20 - Issue 8, 2020

• Moscow has implemented a systematic approach for treatment and management of COVID-19. 
• A network of outpatient CT centres (functioning 24/7, workload 94 studies per 1 scanner) allows to control ‘stay-at-home’ patients, to provide timely detection of deterioration signs, and indications for hospitalisation. 
• Clinically confirmed case of COVID-19 (regardless of the result of a single laboratory test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by PCR and the epidemiological history) based on clinical manifestations of the acute respiratory symptoms and typical features for COVID-19 on the chest CT scan. 
• Municipal radiology reference center assumed the tasks related to the interpretation of radiologic exams conducted in municipal outpatient facilities: uninterrupted remote radiology reporting, mandatory double review of all cases of viral pneumonia, quality control (peer-review). 
• Strategy for applying diagnostic imaging services during the COVID-19 pandemic: 1) no radiology exam in case of absent of symptoms and clinical signs; 2) the primary diagnostic method for coronavirus disease is high-resolution chest computed tomography; 3) portable X-ray or ultrasound is used to assess the dynamics of clinical symptoms in patients in ICU.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all countries of the world to take extraordinary measures to overcome the disease, curb its spread, as well as confront the growing economic crisis. The challenges to national healthcare systems are enormous, requiring mobilisation of all resources, intensive involvement of the new opportunities, special protection of medical personnel, real-time solutions, practical actions in a rapidly changing environment and under high stress (Guan et al. 2020; Liang and Zhejiang 2020). It should be noted, that radiology is at the forefront of COVID-19 struggle. In Moscow, the first case of COVID-19 was detected on March 2, 2020. At the time of writing, 62,658 confirmed cases are reported in Moscow, of which 6,374 patients recovered, and 695 died. Only 15% of patients were over 65 years old. The Government of the Russian Federation and the Moscow Mayor’s Office  have taken unprecedented measures to provide support and curb the spread of coronavirus infection. In this article, we share information on activities of the diagnostic radiology services in the capital of our country, and our experience of managerial, logistical, educational, and methodological measures, as well as application of digital technologies. 

In total, Moscow has more than 150 state medical facilities, national medical research centres (funded by the federal budget), and a well-developed private sector. The number of hospital beds per 10,000 population is 62.1. Primary care medical facilities (city clinics) can provide about 309 appointments per shift per 10,000 population. There are a number of medical personnel per 10,000 population: doctors - 58.3, nurses - 82.8. As of January 1, 2020, the population of Moscow was 12,692,500 people. 

The municipal radiology diagnostic services integrate diagnostic departments of city outpatient and inpatient facilities (CT, MRI, x-ray, mammography, nuclear medicine). Medical facilities are well-equipped for the provision of interventional radiology and radiation therapy. All diagnostic equipment is connected to the Unified Radiological Information Service (URIS). URIS provides: 

• operational management through the dashboard to monitor the usage, workload, and operability of equipment (pilot studies on dose control monitoring are in progress); 

• standardisation of study protocols and reports;

• citywide quality control system (peer-review);

• centralisation of radiology report writing and telemedicine consultations;

• training and research (including artificial intelligence). 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the main tasks of the Moscow diagnostic radiology services became the following:

1) ensuring readiness for high-intensity work under conditions of increasing workload on top of losses among medical staff;

2) reducing mortality and improving outcomes through the high-quality, timely and uninterrupted diagnostics and follow-up; 

3) the early diagnosis of pneumonia caused by COVID-19 before the development of conditions requiring mechanical ventilation. 

Preventing the Spread of Infection

Multiple managerial, methodological, and administrative measures have been taken to implement these tasks. Moscow Healthcare Department provided regulations and methodological recommendations, the Chief Officer of Regional Radiology and Instrumental Diagnostics issued informational letters. Moscow Research and Practical Clinical Center of Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies (also known as ‘Moscow Radiology’) is the main organisation which provides strategy, methodology, management, quality control, digital technologies introduction, teleradiology and learning for the municipal radiology diagnostic services. 

Organisational Decisions

Management.   In the radiology department, we have created an operational management group under the department head leadership. The group’s responsibilities include coordinating measures within the framework of infection control, interacting with a medical facility administration, collecting and disseminating current information on infection control among employees (including messaging services), preparing the emergency strategy, planning, and implementing measures to ensure seamless operation. We developed a checklist for self-assessment of the department readiness to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic ( tele-med.ai/biblioteka-dokumentov/chek-list-po-gotovnosti-k-covid-19) . 

Separation.  Mandatory measures: separation of patient flows, separation of personnel shifts, and zoning of radiology departments, creating contactless workflows. A radiology department should be divided into the following zones: 

• conditionally clean (in hospital settings),

Staff restructuring.  The following actions were performed in municipal hospitals:

• nurses from other departments were transferred to radiology departments to assist x-ray technicians; 

• screening programmes were discontinued, and x-ray technicians from those programmes were transferred to CT-scan rooms; 

• with additional staff, operation in CT-scan rooms is organised in a new way. Three employees work there: a doctor – remotely, an x-ray technician – in the control room, an assistant (a nurse or released x-ray technician from another modality) – in the treatment room. The assistant also positions a patient on the table and communicates with patients directly.

Active visits management.  A number of planned radiology exams are reduced. At the same time, the availability and timeliness of radiological studies in emergencies are rigorously kept. Diagnostics in oncology and life-threatening conditions, interventional radiology, radiation therapy, and others are fully operational. 

Infection control.  Disinfection, sanitation, and infection control measures are carried out under the current legislation of the Russian Federation. Additionally, international best practices are considered. 

Outpatient CT Centers (OCTC).  In Moscow, patients with mild COVID-19 are treated at home. Medical observation is carried out remotely by the staff of a specialised telemedicine centre. Medications are provided to municipal clinics’ patients free of charge. A network of outpatient CT centers (OCTC) has been developed in Moscow to improve monitoring of these patient cohorts, provide timely detection of signs of deterioration, and indications for hospitalisation. Centres were opened on the base of municipal city clinics. OCTC is examining patients with COVID-19 who are assigned to this clinic. Studies are free of charge for patients and funded by the Federal Funds for Mandatory Medical Insurance. 

The operation of the OCTC is regulated and standardised by a special decree. In particular, the following rules are established: 

• working hours, time periods of patient examinations and disinfection (studies are carried out 24 hours daily, seven  days a week);

• dividing departments into zones;

• structure and number of healthcare teams;

• rules for routing and ensuring continuity of medical care;

• infection control measures, personnel protection measures, disinfection.

At the stage of the OCTC creation, specialised training for doctors and x-ray technicians was conducted, methodological support was provided to heads of departments and leaders of medical facilities. General practitioners who work in municipal outpatient facilities joined the team of OCTCs. They refer patients with severe respiratory symptoms (t °  >38,5 ° C, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) to the CT scan. If negative dynamics are detected on CT images, the patient goes back to the physician who determines the necessity of hospitalisation. It is how the concept of “clinically confirmed case of COVID-19” is implemented. 

All OCTCs have special support from Moscow Radiology Reference Center. At the time of writing, 48 OCTCs are functioning in Moscow 24/7, about 5,000 chest CT scans are performed daily for patients with COVID-19 before transferring them to a hospital or to home care. The average load is 94 studies per a CT scanner (workload is 108%). The highest record was 163 studies in a day. It is absolutely incredible work of Moscow doctors and technicians. During the first two weeks of operating, OCTCs performed 45,444 chest CT scans, radiologists identified 23,021 patients with CT-signs of COVID-19. We cannot fail to mention the numerous volunteers from small and medium-sized businesses (restaurants, cafes) who provide hot meals to the personnel of OCTCs. 

Under the auspices of ‘Moscow Radiology,’ a working group of experts was formed (representatives of 10 clinics in Russia). International and domestic experience has been systematised, and the group developed the guidelines “Radiology and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Organisation, Methodology, Interpretation” (medradiology.moscow/f/ luchevaya_diagnostika_koronavirusnoj_infekcii_covid-19_ v2_17042020-4.pdf). 

Strategy for Applying Diagnostic Imaging Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of diagnostic radiology is primary diagnostics, differential diagnostics, patient routing, follow-up, determination of indications for transferring patients to the intensive care unit, or for discharging from the hospital for outpatient treatment. Considering the resources and capabilities, our own and international medical experience, we proposed the following principles of choosing a modality of diagnostic imaging services: 

1. If symptoms and clinical signs of acute respiratory infection (ARI) are absent (regardless of the epidemiological history), the use of radiology studies is not recommended.

2. The primary method for the diagnostics, confirmation, and follow-up of COVID-19 (taking into account clinical and laboratory data) is high-resolution computed tomography of the chest (in outpatient and inpatient settings). 

3. For critically ill patients (including those who are in intensive care and resuscitation units (ICU), if they cannot be transported, or if computed tomography is not available), x-ray (a portable x-ray machine) or ultrasound is used to assess the dynamics. 

As per regulations of the Russian Federation and international recommendations, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used for the final diagnosis (verification) of COVID-19. However, our own experience in fighting the pandemic in Moscow and international publications indicate several PCR problems (Ai et al. 2020; Dai et al. 2020; Pan et al. 2020): 

• low sensitivity; 

• long waiting time for results (at least one day), leading to the delay in beginning a specific therapy; 

• high proportion of false-negative results.

This situation has forced us to review approaches for classifying the cases of coronavirus infection. As a result, the Moscow healthcare system has adopted the concept of clinically confirmed case of COVID-19. 

Clinically Confirmed Case of COVID-19

Clinical manifestations of the acute respiratory infection (in the absence of other known causes explaining clinical symptoms, regardless of the epidemiological history):

1. Body temperature above 37.5  ° C 

2. One or more of the following symptoms:

• cough – dry or with scanty sputum

• shortness of breath, feeling of congestion in the chest 

• blood oxygen saturation according to pulse oximetry (SpO 2 ) ≤ 95% 

• sore throat, runny nose, and other catarrhal symptoms 

• weakness, headache

• diarrhoea. 

Typical chest CT features of COVID-19:

• ground-glass opacities

• consolidation zones

• thickening of interlobular septa interstitium (“crazy paving”)

• hydrothorax

• bilateral, mainly lower lobar, peripheral, perivascular distribution.

This approach allowed to route patients more efficiently and begin a specific therapy earlier. PCR continues to be performed according to the standard protocol, but the negative result of the method are almost entirely levelled. In the pandemic, the main method for diagnosis of COVID-19 in Moscow has been computed tomography because of the limitations of PCR test. In municipal outpatient facilities, a CT scan is used for sorting patients with signs of ARI and follow-up patients with a mild form of COVID-19. In hospitals, a CT scan is used for follow-up, disease progression prediction, determining criteria for a patient’s discharge from the hospital for outpatient treatment (Ai et al. 2020; Dai et al. 2020; Pan et al. 2020). 

We realise, that CT scan can identify a difference between viral and bacterial pneumonia in patients with ARI symptoms starting from the third-fifth of illness. Unfortunately, signs of COVID-19 are not recognised on CT images during the first 3-4 days of illness and in mild cases. Computed tomography is included in all clinical protocols and guidelines for the city medical facilities. Methodological support has been provided: 

• standardised operating procedures have been developed (primarily for x-ray technicians on how to perform studies and disinfect equipment)

• doctor’s training, informational support for department heads at the regular remote seminars (meetups) 

• remote quality control (peer-review), individual quality improvement measures (educational, organisational, technical, others) based on the results 

• telemedicine consulting by experts for city doctors. 

To standardise the doctor’s performance, we developed a unique classification and a short format of the CT-scan report. We recommended solutions for patient routing, criteria for hospitalisation in the intensive care unit, or a patient’s discharge from the hospital based on the clinical manifestation and the degree of pulmonary tissue involvement (Table 1). Classification allows to standardise patient routing and treatment. 

The implementation of these approaches ensured a systematisation of operation of Moscow diagnostic radiology services, its effective interaction with clinical divisions, outpatient and inpatient medical facilities. Proposed classifications and criteria allowed to speed up doctors’ productivity, make it standardised, transparent, easily manageable and adaptable to rapidly changing environment. By introducing the concept of “clinically confirmed case of COVID-19,” we could reduce the time from the disease onset to the beginning of the specific therapy. 

Digital Infrastructure

Moscow Radiology Diagnostic Services is a shared digital space. It is based on the Unified Radiological Information Service (URIS). URIS is an information system with its own data centre, to which all digital diagnostic equipment of municipal outpatient facilities and partially city hospitals are connected (complete connection of hospitals is planned from 2019 to 2021). The main functions of URIS include: 

- centralised archive of radiology studies’ results; 

- monitoring of equipment operation, accessibility to radiological services for patients; 

- supporting managerial decision making; 

- providing remote communication for writing radiology reports and expert consulting; 

- remote quality control; 

- providing medical data for training, research, development of artificial intelligence. 

To expand the functionality of the radiological information system, we supplemented it with a dashboard, speech recognition, and intellectual (AI-based) report templates (as part

of a scientific experiment). URIS is also integrated with the Uniform Medical Information and Analytical System of Moscow (UMIAS), that ensures continuity of city medical facilities’ work and minimises study duplication. Also, thanks to this integration, the studies’ results are available to city residents in their account on the portal “Moscow State Services.” Taking into account the pandemic experience, we can already say that URIS, as the basis of the unified digital space, requires the prompt integration of hospitals, modules for monitoring radiation dose, and rapid increase in computing resources.

Teleradiology

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a real telemedicine boom. On one hand, the demand for direct-to-consumer telemedicine and telehealth has dramatically increased. On the other hand, telemedicine and digital technologies have become non-alternative basis for organising healthcare in the “doctor-to-doctor” segment. The potential of telemedicine as the tool for healthcare management in a pandemic are enormous: 

1) fast arrangement of consultations, decision making support, including patient logistics;

2) effective reallocation of human resources, including covering the increasing losses among medical personnel;

3) uninterrupted use of expertise of self-isolated doctors; 

4) decrease of face-to-face social and professional contacts  among healthcare workers. 

In diagnostic radiology, telemedicine allows remote reporting, expert consulting on complicated cases, remote quality control (peer-review). Thanks to teleradiology, a face-to-face contact of radiologists and radiation oncologists with patients can be minimised. Almost all doctors can be removed from the “red” zone. The exception is doctors who are involved in conducting studies with contrast enhancement (according to the current regulation, a radiologist must be present at the procedure room).

Methodological Assistance

Recommendations for radiology departments: 

• move doctor’s offices to the “green” zone, isolate them as much as possible, and provide the necessary number of workstations and auxiliary computer equipment; 

• issue radiology reports using hospital (radiological) information system (in Moscow - URIS); 

• switch most radiologists to remote operation mode; 

• distribute workstations to doctors (at least professional monitors), provide remote connection to hospital (radiological) information system (in Moscow - URIS); 

• implement time-limits for x-ray technicians in the conditions of the remote doctor’s work, as well as for remote radiology reporting and study consultation.

Moscow Radiology Reference Center

In April 2020, Moscow Radiology Reference Center (MRRC) was launched. MRRC is designed for the most effective use of the primary healthcare personnel, simplifying management of medical staff and ensuring its interchangeability (including prevention of workflow interruptions in radiology departments due to the staff shortage). MRRC operates 24/7/365 providing radiology reports and quality control (peer-review) of diagnostic studies. 

The planned number of doctors in MRRC is 500. All radiologists of outpatient radiology services are concentrated in the reference centre. Of course, in the pandemic, we are talking about operating remotely or at the facilities divided into zones. In any case, most of radiologists are removed from the healthcare settings, which reduces the risk of infection and their absence at work. MRRC assumed the tasks related to the interpretation of radiologic exams conducted in municipal outpatient facilities: 

• uninterrupted remote reporting of radiologic exams

• mandatory double review of all cases of viral pneumonia

• quality control (peer-review).

Additionally, at the level of the Russian Federation, MRRC provides:

• organisational and methodological support of the diagnostic radiology services of the country

• expert remote consulting

• support of educational events

• participation in scientific research.

Moscow Radiology Reference Center provides constant support of OCTCs (see above). Doctors on-call conduct round-the-clock remote quality control (peer-review) of studies and provide expert telemedicine consulting, if necessary (approximately 20-25% of cases). During the first two weeks of OCTC operating, Moscow Radiology Reference Center made 10,391 peer-reviews and consultations. 

Expert Telemedicine Consulting

Earlier, remote discussions of complicated clinical cases were carried out by consultants of the ‘Moscow Radiology’ centre regularly. Consultants of the centre conducted decision-making support for doctors of Moscow municipal outpatient facilities for particularly complicated, atypical, rare cases. Note, that such consultations were provided in different modalities. Annually ‘Moscow Radiology’ carried out around 3,000-3,500 expert teleconsultations. 

With the pandemic progression, a demand for expert telemedicine consultations on the differential diagnosis of viral pneumonia has increased, and not only from Moscow municipal clinics but also from medical facilities of other regions of the Russian Federation. It required to design special mechanisms for handling such requests. ‘Moscow Radiology’ has developed a radiological information system (RIS). It allows doctors from different regions of the Russian Federation to upload anonymised studies in the DICOM standard, and for consultants to conduct remote interpretations. A two-stage approach was methodically applied: 

• stage I – upload an anonymised video to ‘Moscow Radiology’ chat for triage, a consultant on duty determines the need for a complete consultation;

• stage II – if the need is confirmed, a full study is downloaded in the DICOM standard into a special RIS, and the consultant doctor provides a complete teleconsultation. 

At the triage stage, cases which were not consistent with viral pneumonia were eliminated, for example, bacterial pneumonia, oncology. Such a process reduced the burden on the consultant radiologists of ‘Moscow Radiology,’ allowing them to work only with targeted cases. Moreover, this accelerated process of making diagnostic decisions at the local medical facilities, reduced, among other things, medical staff concerns and patients’ anxiety. 

Social Media and Web

E-mail, internet messengers, telephone, social networks, video conferencing are actively used for communication on organisational, logistical, and methodological issues. In particular, the number of Moscow Radiology’ Telegram® channel ( t.me/MoscowRadiology ) users has increased by five times in three weeks. There are 2,738 participants now (radiologists, x-ray technicians, department heads). It became the platform for a rapid exchange of information about the current situation and problems, discussion of organisational issues, sharing experience, informing about a release of guidelines, regulatory documents, educational events, as well as for triage consultations. Also, ‘Moscow Radiology’ set up chats for: 

• heads of radiology departments

• x-ray technicians

• consultant doctors involved in methodological work

• AI integration and accuracy evaluation.

Such channels and chats existed before, voluntarily uniting specialists. During the pandemic and quarantine measures, they have become a critical tool for real-time communication. The number of users in each chat increased by several times. 95-100% of each target audience is united in thematic groups. Health workers are promptly and effectively informed based on their target profiles. 

During the first days of the pandemic, ‘Moscow Radiology’ set up a website Radiologists vs COVID-19 ( sdo.npcmr.ru/basic-kt-module-2 ). to accumulate the most relevant information, guidelines, regulations, webinars, etc. The website allows to quickly and conveniently inform medical community. 

Artificial Intelligence 

In the conditions of staff shortage (including personnel absence due to sickness) and sharp increase in workload, the use of computer vision technologies and artificial intelligence for automated analysis of diagnostic images has become especially relevant. The main potential scenarios for such tools are the following: 

• triage (sorting) of CT scans performed in the primary care settings 

• assessment of chest-CT abnormalities in patients with COVID-19 in dynamics.

In this case, AI can help save doctors’ time and reallocate their attention to challenging cases. Since January 2020, a large-scale scientific experiment has been launched in Moscow to assess the capabilities of computer vision technologies in radiology. The project is being implemented by the Moscow Government and provides grants to companies that develop services based on artificial intelligence (mosmed.ai). Currently, 12 companies have already participated in the experiment, and the selection of new participants continues. The uniqueness of the project is that companies can integrate their software into URIS, and prospectively analyse tens and hundreds of thousands of studies. We intend to assess diagnostic accuracy, commitment, and satisfaction of doctors, as well as level of technological defects. Initially, the experiment was conducted on three types of studies: chest CT for detecting lung cancer, mammography for detecting breast cancer, chest x-ray for detecting several pathologies (tuberculosis, cancer, pneumonia). However, the pandemic has made adjustments – now services can participate in the experiment for detecting signs of viral pneumonia (including COVID-19) on CT scans and chest x-rays. 

At the time of this writing, the first developer of such an algorithm has successfully integrated into URIS. Calibration and a preliminary assessment of the algorithm accuracy are underway. 

Due to the rapid evolution of the pandemic, we have faced an acute need to inform and train our medical staff:

1) Information vacuum: most medical professionals lack evidence-based information about the diagnosis, treatment, prevention of COVID-19, as well as the management of radiology services during a pandemic; 

2) Rapid changes in the medical and tactical situation, the accumulation of knowledge in real-time, need to provide up-to-date but verified information to many medical professionals almost daily;

3) At the same time, minimisation of personal social contacts and excessive workload, the highest stress level made traditional forms of information exchange (conferences, masterclasses, classroom training courses) completely ineffective. 

To solve these problems, ‘Moscow Radiology’ has developed and implemented “Training and Informing System for Radiologists in the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Target audience: 

• heads of radiology and ultrasound departments, 

• radiologists and specialists in ultrasound diagnostics,

• x-ray technicians.

The system includes a combination of modern pedagogical and information technologies.

1. Pedagogical technologies: 

• interactive training

• training in small groups (cooperation technologies) 

• mutual learning

• problem-based learning. 

2. Information technologies:

• full transition to the remote operation mode (webinar platforms)

• expanding the arsenal of software products and web applications, increasing the interactivity of e-learning (spaces for group work, online voting, joint ‘whiteboard’, etc.) 

• expanding the number of applied mobile applications 

• emphasis on chats in social networks and internet messengers (for informing, analysing clinical cases, training). 

As a result, we conducted a combination of asynchronous distance learning courses and interactive online training in the group work format. 

Learning Strategies

a) Standard advanced training courses on general topics. 

Goal: fully maintain the processes of routine postgraduate education.

Mechanism: full transition to e-learning mode, measures to ensure access to educational materials from workplaces. 

b) Targeted doctors and x-ray technicians training on COVID-19 issues.

Goal: prepare medical personnel for the pandemic. 

Mechanism: 

i) training – short-term online courses;

ii) constant information on current issues – webinars (with access to the recordings), special channels in social networks. 

As an example, the 18-hours distance course on ultrasound and imaging diagnostics of COVID-19 ( sdo.npcmr.ru/basic-kt-module-2 ).

c) Courses for radiologists who have not been trained before on chest computed tomography (CT).

Goal: provide a reserve of specialists for timely CT reporting. 

Mechanism: short-term distance courses on conducting chest CT scan and reporting.

d) Training heads of diagnostic departments on COVID-19 issues.

Goal: to provide strategic professional development training for leadership of medical facilities on issues of organisation and management, infection control, changes in regulations. Mechanism:

i) training – regular (weekly) meetups with presentations of relevant materials, practical experience from various medical institutions and territories, discussions;

ii) constant information on current issues – webinars (with access to their recordings), special channels in social networks ( tele-med.ai/obrazovanie/vebinary/ )

e) Training physicians on specific issues of diagnostic radiology of COVID-19.

Goal: reduce the time from patient admission to diagnosis and beginning a specific therapy. 

Mechanism: short-term distance courses and webinars for physicians, anesthesiologists on the basics of chest CT scan and x-ray with emphasis on the diagnosis of viral pneumonia. 

Recommendation Based on Results of the System Performance

1) Maximise the use of digital technologies and social media for continuous education and information of healthcare workers about COVID-19 issues; 

2) Increase the social responsibility of business structures – to provide free access for educational institutions and medical professionals to software and web services for implementing distance learning during a pandemic; 

3) Training courses for X-ray technicians, radiologists, physicians, healthcare administrators (leadership of medical facilities and heads of radiology and ultrasound departments) should be separated and have a specific approach;

4) Combine different training formats – short-term distance courses, constant information through enclosed channels in social networks, expert telemedicine consultations for the analysis of clinical cases. 

Conclusion 

Moscow has implemented a systematic approach – “imaging modality of choice – regulatory requirements – methodological support – quality assurance.” It allowed maximum availability, safety, quality, and standardisation of radiology diagnostics of COVID-19 in a few days in the Moscow megalopolis. 

Our main goal is to save people’s lives. The role of diagnostic radiology during the COVID-19 pandemic has become crucial. Radiologists’ significance and their level of responsibility have been fundamentally transformed. Previously, we were talking about the qualitative interpretation of diagnostic images and effective communication with clinicians. Now the situation has changed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, radiologists provide triage “en masse” and routing of patients between outpatient and inpatient medical facilities. 

Moscow Healthcare Department has identified a pandemic response strategy. Within its framework, the parent organisation (‘Moscow Radiology’) established the goal setting for the radiology diagnostic services, provided a set of methodological, educational, scientific, organisational support, and implemented a quality control system. The role of the professional community is immeasurable! The dedicated work of medical staff, at the same time, active communication, feedback, selfless and friendly sharing of their experience and knowledge with colleagues, mutual support, giving advice are crucial in a pandemic. In truth: Aliis inserviendo consumor! 

Conflicts of Interest:

References:

Ai T, Yang Z, Hou H et al. (2020) Correlation of Chest CT and RT-PCR Testing in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China: A Report of 1014 Cases [published online ahead of print] Radiology, 200642. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020200642.

Dai WC, Zhang HW, Yu J et al. (2020) CT Imaging and Differential Diagnosis of COVID-19. Can Assoc Radiol J, 71(2):195‐200. doi:10.1177/0846537120913033

Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y et al. (2020) Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med, 382(18):1708‐1720. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2002032.

Handbook of COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment. Ed. by T. Liang. (2020) Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

Huang Z, Zhao S, Li Z et al. (2020) The Battle Against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Emergency Management and Infection Control in a Radiology Department [published online ahead of print] J Am Coll Radiol, S1546-1440(20)30285-4. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2020.03.011.

Kooraki S, Hosseiny M, Myers L, Gholamrezanezhad A (2020) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: What the Department of Radiology Should Know. J Am Coll Radiol, 17(4):447‐451. doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2020.02.008.

Morozov S, Guseva E, Ledikhova N, Vladzymyrskyy A, Safronov D (2018) Telemedicine-based system for quality management and peer review in radiology. Insights Imaging, 9(3):337‐341. doi:10.1007/s13244-018-0629-y.

Pan F, Ye T, Sun P et al. (2020 Time Course of Lung Changes On Chest CT During Recovery From 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pneumonia [published online ahead of print]. Radiology, 200370. doi:10.1148/radiol.2020200370.

Prof. Sergey Morozov

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