Radiology Challenges in Mexico: A Dialogue with the Country's Leading Radiologists
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming some of the country's leading radiologists to Eva Center's offices. We opened a space for a dialogue and exchange of ideas on the challenges Mexico faces in the field of radiology and imaging.
We were joined by leading figures in the field: Dr. Luis Felipe Alva of Médica Sur, Dr. Jose Luis Criales Cortes of Grupo CT Scanner, Dr. Constantino Contreras Vazquez of HOSPITAL SAN ANGEL INN, Dra. Laura Patricia García, and Dr. Julio César Martinez of Análisis Clínicos Dr. Simi.
Here we share some of the key takeaways from the conversation.
Current Challenges with the Status Quo and How to Solve Them
First, it is crucial to highlight the fundamental role that technicians play in the clinic, since their performance and the tools they use daily benefit the radiologist, the referring physician, and the patient alike. That is why it is important to provide better guidance to both technicians and supervisors, giving them context on the purpose of each study and the relevant information tied to the referring physician's request.
In this sense, having technological features within a PACS that strengthen and simplify data capture represents a major area of opportunity. In addition, physicians agree on the importance of context when performing and interpreting imaging studies, so it would be helpful to have focused reports or prompts indicating the minimum elements that must be reported for a specific study.
On the other hand, one of the current challenges in radiology practice involves referring physicians. While specialists tend to make the reporting task easier, general practitioners sometimes are not very specific in their requests or end up dissatisfied with the report they receive. In this regard, having prompts within the system that indicate the scope of the study and the diagnostic expectations can help improve referring physician satisfaction and the quality of the service provided.
How to Help Shape a Better Future with New Technologies
Likewise, in the administrative side of the field, templates that help radiologists communicate with the RIS, review the clinical history, and know what will be billed are highly useful, since this data allows them to anticipate the patient's needs and provide better care.
What has been achieved so far remains necessary, but there is still progress to be consolidated: development, accessibility, and growth among physicians and radiology technicians. We need PACS systems that are easy to install. IT staff often do not know what development the client needs, and it is important to remember that not all clients have the same needs, nor are they all interested in the same measurements.
In summary: radiologists lose a great deal of time on administrative tasks. Automating all these tasks, for example replacing disc burners and printers with 100% digital delivery, will radically streamline and improve outcomes.
To achieve this, it would be necessary for everyone to embrace this new practice, since there is still a great deal of reluctance. Physicians emphasized how digital medicine must guarantee information security in order to mitigate resistance to change.
“If there are no mechanisms pushing against resistance, the status quo remains.”
With good practices in place in Mexico, it will very soon become far more feasible to have comprehensive information fully digitized, information that gives you access to everything, helps you save time as a physician, and makes quality assessment easier. If we were to undergo a service quality audit, for example, we would all be evaluated, and this would push us to improve.
