Patients' pics help radiologists

[theblackalchemist]

Patients' pics help radiologists

 

CHICAGO: Imagine sitting in a dark room all day, evaluating CT scans and other medical images on a computer screen but never actually seeing real

 

patients. That’s life for many radiologists.

 

But an intriguing Israeli study found adding photos of patients’ faces to the file made these doctors more meticulous when looking at the X-rays. They reported more details and said they felt more empathy for patients who were otherwise strangers. Adding patients’ photos is a simple, low-tech way to reap rewards for both doctors

and their patients, the researchers concluded.

 

Several experts not involved in the study agreed, although James Thrall, chairman of the American College of Radiology’s board of chancellors, said making it common practice in the US could be problematic because of privacy laws.

 

Also, the benefits of including photos might disappear when the novelty of the practice wore off, said Thrall, a Massachusetts General Hospital radiologist. Still, he said it merits more research.

 

The study involved 15 radiologists at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem and 318 patients who agreed to be photographed before undergoing CT scans. The color photos appeared automatically when the doctors opened the patients’ computer files.

 

 

 

 

 

Patients' pics help radiologists-Health/Sci-The Times of India