Impact of COVID-19 on Breast Imaging Practice Operations and Recovery Efforts: A North American Study

Abstract

Objective To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast imaging facilities’ operations and recovery efforts across North America. Methods A survey on breast imaging facilities’ operations and strategies for recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic was distributed to the membership of the Society of Breast Imaging and National Consortium of Breast Centers from June 4, 2020 to July 14, 2020. A descriptive summary of responses was performed. Comparisons were made between demographic variables of respondents and questions of interest using a Pearson chi-squared test. Results There were 473 survey respondents (response rate of 13%). The majority of respondents (70%; 332/473) reported 80-100% breast imaging volume reduction, with 94% (447/473) reporting postponement of screening mammography. The majority of respondents (97%; 457/473) continued to perform biopsies. There were regional differences in safety measures taken for staff (p=.004) with practices in the West more likely reporting no changes in the work environment compared to other regions. The most common changes to patients’ experience included spacing out of furniture in waiting rooms (94%; 445/473), limiting visitors (91%; 430/473) and spacing out appointments (83%). Significantly higher proportion of practices in the Northeast (95%; 104/109) initiated patient scheduling changes, compared to other regions (p=.004). Conclusions COVID-19 had an acute impact on breast imaging facilities. Although common national operational patterns emerged, geographic variability was notable in particular in recovery efforts. These findings may inform future best practices for delivering breast imaging care amidst the ongoing and geographically shifting COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Imaging: An Analysis of the National Mammography Database

“…These guidelines advocated for strategies to shift the risk/benefit ratio for patients to facilitate a safe return to screening practices. In response, practices adopted a wide variety of strategies to encourage patients to return, including expanding hours, switching to electronic intake forms, improved cleaning and sanitation practices, and rearranging the workflows of clinics [ 12 ]. Several publications using regional and limited national data sets reported that in the months after the pandemic peak, screening mammography volumes began to rebound, but rates had not yet returned to prepandemic baseline [2,5,6].…”

COVID-19 and Breast Radiologist Wellness: Impact of Gender, Financial Loss, and Childcare Need

“…Breast radiologists may be particularly at risk, given their close emotional and physical contact with patients combined with limited remote working options compared with other radiology subspecialists. Screening mammography experienced one of the greatest imaging volume declines during the initial disease surge, putting breast radiologists at greater risk for redeployment, furloughs, and job loss and potentially further contributing to stress and financial instability [14,15]. In addition, unlike radiology in general, breast imaging is a female-dominated subspecialty, and the pandemic has been shown to affect women disproportionately in terms of job loss, childcare responsibilities, and mental health [16,17].…”