Emergency Radiology: Evolution, Current Status, and Future Directions

Abstract

Emergency Radiology is a clinical practice and an academic discipline that has rapidly gained increasing global recognition among radiology and emergency/critical care departments and trauma services around the world. As with other subspecialties, Emergency Radiology practice has a unique scope and purpose and presents with its own unique challenges. There are several advantages of having a dedicated Emergency Radiology section, perhaps most important of which is the broad clinical skillset that Emergency Radiologists are known for. This multi-society paper, representing the views of Emergency Radiology societies in Canada and Europe, outlines several value-oriented contributions of Emergency Radiologists and briefly discusses the current state of Emergency Radiology as a subspecialty.

Radiology Department Disaster Preparedness: Practice, Strategies and Emergency Response

“…Assessment and Input: Through the use of mock drills, managers may assess how well the radiology department's disaster response strategy and protocols are working. In order to enhance future reactions, the strategy, training initiatives, and resource allocation techniques can be revised in light of observations and comments received during drills [16].…”

Radiology’s Contribution to Individual Healthcare and to Society – a Shift from Volume to Value

“…6 In this issue, Li et al contribute a very useful description of the value added to patient care by specific Emergency Radiology (ER) services and expertise. 7 They consider many aspects of how ER specialists and dedicated imaging access can improve speed of diagnosis and patient management, thereby improving personal and societal outcomes in an area of medicine where rapid and timely diagnosis and intervention can be critical. Immediate availability of necessary imaging can be life-saving in acute situations.…”