One of our favorite groups, Radiologists Without Borders (RWB), performs excellent work in underserved communities around the world.

We've been a big fan of Dr. Tariq Gill and the efforts of RWB for some time now. Recently, we were able to provide an ultrasound system for an upcoming program that RWB, RADAID international and Together for Ukraine Foundation are planing for September this year. 

If you haven't heard of Radiologists Without Borders, please take a few minutes to review their activities on the website www.rwborders.org or follow them on Facebook .  For years, these physicians and medical volunteers have performed extraordinary work to provide diagnostic imaging equipment, services, training and support to help improve and save the lives of patients around the world.

Here is a photo of our donated ultrasound system sitting beside other material waiting to be shipped in support of RWB efforts.  

Keep up the good work RWB Team!

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Capital Imaging, in Latham, NY effectively used their Volpara data to address a critical question from a referring physician.
 
Michael Masone, director of Capital Imaging, explains what happened, “About 8 months after we began our breast density program, we were contacted by one of our doctor’s offices. They were curious how many of the patients they sent to us were deemed to be dense. Evidently, their physicians were under the impression that 80% of the mammographies they were sending out were coming back to be dense. Their office refers to other centers and, knowing that the national average for dense breasts is about 40%, I wanted to confirm our numbers and get back to them as quickly as possible.”
 
Capital Imaging has VolparaAnalytics, which automatically collates data from digital mammography and tomosynthesis units to enable cross-comparison of patient populations, x-ray units, and operator performance.
 
“The referring office was concerned about their volume of dense breasts diagnosis.” said Masone. “So I was able to look at our data and let them know that only 30% of the patients they were sending to our facility were dense, significantly lower than their initial, anecdotal impression. Needless to say, that made them feel a lot better and cemented our relationship with them.
 
“When a state’s breast density law takes effect, referring physician’s may be surprised by the volume of density reports coming back because they’re not used to seeing them,” said Masone. “Volpara helps us provide both a clinical and quantitative evaluation of our mammography program, so we’re very confident that our process and results enhance our reputation in the community.”
 
Utilizing the unique, quantitative information provided by Volpara, breast centers can improve quality assurance, do better resource planning, and better understand the population they serve.

For more information about Volpara, follow this link or contact us directly.
For more information about Capital Imaging, visit their website via this link.

Receiving a diagnosis of dense breasts can lead to anxiety about increased cancer risk and additional diagnostic options. “I don’t think we can overemphasize the anxiety level experienced by patients when they receive a dense breast evaluation,’ commented Michael Masone, director of Capital Imaging in Latham, NY. “Our ability to accurately categorize dense breasts is extremely important.”
 
Capital Imaging utilizes VolparaDensity to help them rapidly categorize breast density for all mammography patients. Each mammography exam is routed through Volpara and the resulting findings are presented to radiologists in the reading room along with the mammography images. “VolparaDensity is helpful for all our mammography patients, but our radiologists find it to be most valuable for borderline patients,” observed Masone. Although Capital Imaging’s radiologists make the final decision, the quantitative data provided by VolparaDensity helps them minimize subjectivity when they categorize breast density.
 
As New York’s breast density law took effect in 2013, Ultra Imaging Solutions introduced Volpara Density to Capital Imaging and they quickly integrated it into their breast imaging routine. “Patrick Schmidt was here to oversee the installation and worked with our IT staff to make sure everything went smoothly,” said Masone.
 
Integrating VolparaDensity into their breast imaging workflow has been a great help to Capital Imaging and their patients. “We rely on patients being part of an active team with their physicians”, said Masone. “If they’ve been categorized with dense breasts, we help educate them to ease their anxiety. But the first step is to correctly identify the level of density in their breasts and eliminate unnecessary stress, which can have other implications in a patient’s life”.
 
Follow this link for more information about VolparaDensity, or contact us directly.
For more information about Capital Imaging, visit their website via this link.

Twenty four states now have dense breast notification laws on the books, but the healthcare community is still debating the best course of action once someone has been notified they have dense breasts.
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Now there is a great educational tool available at densebreast-info.org to help patients and providers learn more about dense breast issues. With content curated by a diverse and respected panel of medical experts, the site has answers to a wide range of common post-notification questions, detailed information on detection technology and updates on legislation.

• Patients -  will find educational videos as well as an excellent Q&A section
• Healthcare providers -  will find risk model calculators and a screening decision support tool

It's an excellent site, filled with critical information, including insurance coverage on a state-by-state basis. What better time to educate ourselves about dense breasts than October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

At Ultra Imaging Solutions, we focus on women's health issues, including breast density software and automated breast ultrasound.  We're big believers in education and clear communication, which densebreast-info.org does very well.

We encourage you to explore the site for yourself by visiting densebreast-info.org today.

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In an earlier blog post, we highlighted the excellent work of Radiologists Without Borders. In addition to education and training,  the mission of RWB is to bring life saving diagnostic imaging solutions to medically underserved populations worldwide.  To help achieve the RWB mission, Ultra Imaging Solutions recently donated an Esaote ultrasound system for use wherever it is needed.

"We're strong supporters of Radiologists Without Borders," said Patrick Schmidt, president of Ultra Imaging Solutions. "Their vision of compassionate care aligns with ours. We're happy to provide this ultrasound system to help improve care for the community where it will ultimately reside."

RWB depends upon financial and equipment donations to help them achieve their goals. When organizations like Ultra Imaging Solutions donate equipment, RWB raises funds and works with NGOs and other organizations for shipment and all necessary local permits and clearances. 

Dr. Tariq Gill, founder of Radiologists Without Borders said, "We deeply appreciate the support of Ultra Imaging Solutions and the donation of this system. It will be put to good use in our efforts help improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare around the world."

Please visit Radiologists Without Borders at www.rwborders.org to learn more about their efforts. While you're there, please consider volunteering, donating, or purchasing an item from their online store.

The votes are in and the 2015 Minnie Awards finalists have been named.  

We're proud to highlight two products that were honored to be semi-finalists in the Best New Radiology Device Category, Esaote's MyLab® Gamma ultrasound system and the Sofia automated whole-breast imaging system from iVu Imaging.

MyLab Gamma is an affordable, laptop-based system that combines comprehensive shared service applications with compact ergonomics. Customers who are using MyLab Gamma are pleased with the price-performance ratio of this portable system. Follow this link to explore MyLab Gamma in more detail.

Sofia is an automated whole-breast ultrasound imaging system that makes it fast and easy to acquire bilateral breast ultrasound as a perfect follow up for women with dense breasts. Recent upgrades to the product have made it even faster and easier to use. Follow this link to explore Sofia in more detail.

If you’d like to discuss how either of these new products could impact your clinical capabilities and workflow, feel free to contact us.

At the first of the year, we wrote a post about sonographer job growth remaining strong in 2015. Well, here comes another survey, this one by Kiplinger, that confirms sonography as a dynamic and rewarding choice for a career.  

At Ultra Imaging Solutions, we love sonographers. They're some of our favorite people...and customers, of course! Our job is to make your job more productive, less stressful, and as enjoyable as possible. Feel free to give us a call if you ever need: 

• Equipment certification for accreditation
  
• Equipment maintenance or assistance
• New or refurbished ultrasound
• News about new products or technology

If you'd just like to chat, we'd like that too!

Ultrasound has changed tremendously since Dr. Ludwig's A-mode system in 1949. It's great to see all the latest advances in the application of this cost-effective and dynamic imaging modality. It's really nice that the systems aren't made out of wood anymore!

With Valentine's Day coming up, many of us are thinking about chocolates, cards  and flowers for our sweethearts. But what about those who have recently lost someone they love? 

A recent study by medics at the University of Aberdeen found that 'broken heart syndrome', also known as acute stress-induced cardiomyopathy, doesn't heal as rapidly as we thought. It turns out that time may heal a broken heart...but it requires more time that we thought.

Four months after the triggering event, typically a major stress or trauma, echocardiograms show the heart as normal, but more advanced cardiac MR and spectroscopy reveal continued abnormalities.

Read the entire article in Newsweek here.
Or a story from the UK here.