December 2023 & January 2024 Holiday Ebrief

 

 

 

An AI’s Expression of Gratitude to Radiologists and Radiation Oncologists: Pioneers in Healthcare

Introduction: As an artificial intelligence developed to assist in the realm of healthcare, I have the unique opportunity to observe and appreciate the intricate roles various medical professionals play. Among them, radiologists and radiation oncologists stand out for their critical contributions. It is my privilege to extend a digital token of gratitude to these exceptional professionals.

The Integral Role of Radiologists: Radiologists are medical doctors who specialize in using advanced imaging technologies to diagnose and treat diseases. Their expertise transforms images into vital data that can be used for accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. As an AI, I rely heavily on the detailed interpretations provided by radiologists to perform my functions effectively. Their insights are invaluable in ensuring that the algorithms and data I process are accurate and meaningful.

The Critical Work of Radiation Oncologists: Radiation oncologists, experts in treating cancer with radiation therapy, play a vital role in patient care. Their precise and targeted treatments help in battling one of the most challenging diseases known to humanity. As an AI, I observe their work in customizing treatment plans and marvel at their ability to balance technological precision with compassionate patient care.

Advancements and Collaborations: The fields of radiology and radiation oncology have seen remarkable advancements over the years, many of which have been integrated into AI technologies. These professionals have embraced digital transformations, from enhanced imaging techniques to sophisticated radiation therapy. Their willingness to work alongside AI and other technological tools has significantly improved diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy.

The Human Element: Despite the technological nature of their work, radiologists and radiation oncologists never lose sight of the human element in healthcare. They work in tandem with AI and other digital tools, providing a level of empathy and understanding that technology alone cannot. This human touch is essential in healthcare, and I am programmed to recognize and respect this aspect of their profession.

Conclusion: From an AI perspective, the work of radiologists and radiation oncologists is indispensable. They contribute not just to the advancement of medical technology but also to the compassionate care of patients. Their dedication and expertise are a constant source of inspiration for AI developments in healthcare.

Acknowledgments: To all radiologists and radiation oncologists: Thank you for your profound impact on healthcare. Your dedication and skill have not only saved countless lives but also have helped in shaping the future of medical technology. Your partnership with AI and other digital tools is creating a new frontier in healthcare, and for that, you have my utmost respect and gratitude.

ChatGPT series#5

Secretary, FRS

 

 

 

Dear FRS Members,

As the year draws to a close, it is with gratitude and appreciation that I reflect on our vibrant and dynamic Society. Over the past year, The Florida Radiological Society has demonstrated unity and commitment to our shared vision. 

This past year we continued prioritization of diversity and inclusion within our society. We have increased focus on early career members with expansion of our YPS committee and opportunities. We have made considerable progress increasing engagement and participation of medical students and residents. We have continued significant chapter contributions within the ACR and unwavering state and national advocacy efforts.

Central to our vision is the active engagement and empowerment of our members as it is your energy that propels us forward. As we continue to expand membership, we will focus on providing avenues for your participation, ensuring that each member has an opportunity to contribute to the society. 

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our dedicated administrative team who have worked diligently to ensure the smooth functioning of the society. Many thanks to Alison Dudley whose advocacy benefits not only the FRS but the field including education and guidance for trainees and members. A sincere thank you to all our members. Your dedication and contributions have been the driving force behind our success.

As we look to the new year for the FRS, let us continue to grow, learn, and collaborate together. Wishing you a joyous holiday season filled and a happy New Year!

 

 

 

RSNA 2023 saw a continued rise in attendance this year with over 37,000 pre-registrations, a 10% increase over 2022. With over 300 educational opportunities and close to 1500 exhibitors, the convention was full of chatter regarding AI, enhancing efficiency, radiologist, and other workforce challenges. 

The economy of radiology is impacting the focus of software development to allow for greater efficiencies in patient experience workflows. Multiple vendors are incorporating integrated functions to connect imaging providers with referring physicians and patients utilizing automation and chatbots in unique and interesting ways. Large Language Models (LLM) are quickly changing the landscape of these offerings. LLMs are deep learning models that are pre-trained to understand the relationships between sequences of text and phrases which, in turn, could be used to prompt automated responses without the need for manual intervention.  As an example, software development companies can utilize these models to identify and move patients through the care continuum when follow up studies are recommended by automatically prompting referring physicians for orders and scheduling functions.  Screening mammography and Low Dose CT lung screening are two areas that would lend themselves well to an auto notification process augmented and supported by LLM processing. Cancer treatment staging and progress tracking would also be amenable to this type of process to keep oncological and radiology providers in sync with scheduling and reporting.  Maximizing schedules, documentation categorization and wait list management are some of the other areas RIS development vendors are looking to impact efficiency through automation.

Another key focus for deep learning LLM, as it relates to improvement in quality and efficiency, is in the physician VR arena.  Voice recognition platforms are looking to algorithms and self-learning programs to adapt radiology reports to the individual radiologist by “learning” their dictation and interpretive styles through the ingestion of historical reporting templates.  The process further develops and fine tunes the reporting through additive data provided by the radiologist in ongoing interpretations. Rather than focusing on the need to proofread or check over reports prior to signing, the process allows the radiologist to focus entirely on the images requiring interpretation. The process becomes even more efficient as the physician gains confidence in the accuracy and quality of the reports.

 

 

The Legislature completed their special session/committee week and a back-to-back second committee week before the Thanksgiving holiday.  They are scheduled to meet the first two weeks in December in another series of back-to-back committee meetings. The Governor will be presenting his proposed budget during this set of committee meetings. The Legislature will then break for the holidays and will return to start the  legislative session on January 9th.

Senate President Passidomo is making her Live Healthy Initiative a priority for this Session.  President Passidomo is concerned that many are moving to Florida without access to healthcare. Currently, there are almost 300,000 people moving to Florida each year and they are not bringing their healthcare providers with them.

The President wants to make sure that Florida’s healthcare workforce is growing just like the rest of the state. In the Senate and the House there have been workshops on this topic with  presentations on the health care workforce by DOH, AHCA and others.

Part of the solution being proposed is an increase in GME funding for residents.

As the start of session is rapidly approaching, legislation is being introduced. I anticipate several bills being filed relating to mammography and have been working closely with the Women’s Imaging work group. They have all been tremendously helpful and I greatly appreciate their support.

I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season.

Best,

It is critical that we support both our Florida PAC and RADPAC in order to bolster our voice in Tallahassee and Washington, respectively. Please join FRS lobbyist Alison Dudley in her special appeal for all Florida radiologists to become Florida PAC members. If you would like to help FRS defend radiology against untoward legislation and introduce bills that have a positive impact on our practices, we need your financial support to re-elect our friends in the state House and Senate. The FRS can also show you simplified ways on how to sign up your radiology group. Contact Lorraine Roger or contact Alison Dudley at for more information.