A Clinician's Guide to Nuclear Medicine


Book Description

This publication is an excellent introduction to the diagnostic and therapeutic uses of nuclear medicine procedures and a must have for clinicians, residents, interns, medical students and referring physicians. It reviews nuclear medicine procedures, available alternatives, advantages and limitations of each, and provides patient information to aid in preparing patients




Advancing Nuclear Medicine Through Innovation


Book Description

Nearly 20 million nuclear medicine procedures are carried out each year in the United States alone to diagnose and treat cancers, cardiovascular disease, and certain neurological disorders. Many of the advancements in nuclear medicine have been the result of research investments made during the past 50 years where these procedures are now a routine part of clinical care. Although nuclear medicine plays an important role in biomedical research and disease management, its promise is only beginning to be realized. Advancing Nuclear Medicine Through Innovation highlights the exciting emerging opportunities in nuclear medicine, which include assessing the efficacy of new drugs in development, individualizing treatment to the patient, and understanding the biology of human diseases. Health care and pharmaceutical professionals will be most interested in this book's examination of the challenges the field faces and its recommendations for ways to reduce these impediments.




A Clinician's Guide to Nuclear Oncology


Book Description




Improving Diagnosis in Health Care


Book Description

Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.




Nuclear Cardiology: The Basics


Book Description

In the United States the performance of nuclear cardiology studies continues to increase. As an example, in 1998, 4,160,739 myocardial perfusion imaging st- ies were done. In 2001 this number increased to 5,679,258. The nonhospital performance of perfusion imaging increased over the same time period from 1,188,731 to 1,789,207 studies (Arlington Medical Resources data). In 1999, there were approximately 1300 nonhospital sites with nuclear imaging capabi- ties, of which 600 were in physician’s offices. By 2001, there were approximately 1700 nonhospital sites, of which 780 were in physician’s offices (from IMV, LTD: http://www.imvlimited.com/mid/). The growth of nuclear cardiology as an expanded outpatient laboratory ent- prise is readily apparent. In the United States, as well as in other parts of the world, this growth has been linked to the recognition of the ability of cardiologists to perform these studies. The certification examination in nuclear cardiology is now well established in the United States. Accreditation of laboratories is also well established. Over the years, some of the most frequent questions asked by our former trainees relate to practical issues involved in the establishment of a nuclear cardiology laboratory. In view of the growth of the field, this is certainly not surprising.




Nuclear Medicine Resources Manual


Book Description

Medical imaging is crucial in a variety of medical settings and at all levels of health care. In public health and preventive medicine as well as in both curative and palliative care, effective decisions depend on correct diagnoses. This edition addresses the most current needs and offers guidance on clinical practice, radiation safety and patient protection, human resource development and training required for the overall practice of nuclear medicine.




The Quality Improvement Challenge


Book Description

Efforts to improve the quality of healthcare have failed to achieve a meaningful and sustainable improvement. Patients continue to experience fragmented, inconvenient, and unsafe care while providers are increasingly becoming overburdened with administrative tasks. The need for change is clear. Healthcare professionals need to take on new leadership roles in quality improvement (QI) projects to effect real change. The Quality Improvement Challenge in Healthcare equips readers with the skills and knowledge required to develop and implement successful operational improvement initiatives. Designed for healthcare providers seeking to apply QI in practice, this valuable resource delivers step-by-step guidance on improvement methodology, team dynamics, and organizational change management in the context of real-world healthcare environments. The text integrates the principles and practices of Lean Six Sigma, human-centered design, and neurosciences to present a field-tested framework. Detailed yet accessible chapters cover topics including identifying and prioritizing the problem, developing improvement ideas, defining the scope of the project, organizing the QI team, implementing and sustaining the improvement, and much more. Clearly explaining each step of the improvement process, this practical guide: Presents the material in a logical sequence, gradually introducing each step of the process with clearly defined workflow templates Features a wealth of examples demonstrating QI application, and case studies emphasizing key concepts to highlight successful and unsuccessful improvement initiatives Includes end-of-chapter exercises and review questions for assessing and reinforcing comprehension Offers practical tips and advice on communicating effectively, leading a team meeting, conducting a tollgate review, and motivating people to change Leading QI projects requires a specific set of skills not taught in medical school. The Quality Improvement Challenge in Healthcare bridges this gap for experienced and trainee healthcare providers, and serves as an important reference for residency program directors, physician educators, healthcare leaders, and health-related professional organizations.




Clinical Nuclear Medicine


Book Description

This work has true international scope, being a unique European/American joint venture that focuses on the state of the art in both diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclide methodology. Pertinent clinical applications are emphasized rather than attempting to cover everything included in the several large comprehensive texts available in our field. This "practical" approach should make it an essential guide to nuclear medicine physicians, technologists, students and interested clinicians alike.




A Manual of Nuclear Medicine Procedures (Penerbit USM)


Book Description

Nuclear Medicine is a fast growing specialty. The procedures provide quantitative parameters of organ functions required for modern practice of medicine. With the development of new machines and increased application of computer software, the procedures are under continuous change. Some procedures have become outdated or redundant, while new methods have been introduced to enhance the quality of information obtained from a particular application. Although there are a few books published abroad to inform doctors and technical staff about the procedures, a comprehensive source to give quick information about how different tests are performed, particularly the new developments and the expected outcome both in normal and abnormal cases has been a long felt need. The physician ordering a Nuclear Medicine test also needs to know what patient preparations are required for optimal results, how to satisfy the queries of the patient particularly in respect of radiation exposure which sometimes can be a major concern of the patient. This manual has been prepared not only to describe technical details of various procedures that are currently practiced in Nuclear Medicine but also to provide quick information for the doctors and health care personnel on how to inform the patients about the investigation for which they are being referred and how to interpret the results. Since there is no such comprehensive book published yet in Asia, including South-East Asia, it is likely to be in great demand in the region. All students of master's degree, M.D., DRM, DMRIT, M.Sc. (Nuclear Medicine) and technologists already working in various diagnostic centers will likely buy this book. General practitioners and specialists who refer patients for different radio isotope investigations may find this book useful for quick reference.




Quality and Safety in Medical Imaging: The Essentials


Book Description

Zero in on a key aspect of radiology with Quality and Safety in Medical Imaging: The Essentials! Ideal as an efficient learning tool for residents as well as a quick refresher for experienced radiologists, this practical reference covers every essential feature of this important field, putting indispensable information at your fingertips in a compact, high-yield format. You’ll be brought up to date on radiation dose and safety, patient satisfaction, monitoring and reporting of complications, quality and safety in breast imaging, evidence-based radiology, quality dashboards, quality and safety in nuclear medicine, and much more.