American Imaging Management discusses about diagnostic imaging in a journal

Sep 1 2009

American Imaging Management(R) (AIM), an operating subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) and one of the leading companies in the radiology benefit management industry, today commended articles on diagnostic imaging that appear in the August 27, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The article "Exposure to Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation from Medical Procedures" reviews the results of a three-year study and concludes that as many as 4 million Americans a year may receive exposure to ionizing radiation from diagnostic imaging procedures. A related editorial titled "Elements of Danger--The Case of Medical Imaging" discusses the need for physicians to assess vigilantly the trade-off between the value and potential dangers of diagnostic imaging.

"These articles reinforce the notion that while diagnostic imaging is a powerful and invaluable clinical tool, managing the use of these services based on accepted clinical guidelines offers significant benefit to patients," said David Soffa, MD, MPA, FACR, AIM's senior vice president of Medical Affairs. "These articles also highlight the need to develop better ways to share information on the radiation issues that exist with these procedures."

AIM is one of the first companies to have developed a multi-faceted patient safety program to educate patients and providers regarding radiation exposure related to diagnostic imaging. Launched in 2008, AIM's Patient Safety website (www.americanimaging.net/safety) offers users an easy-to-use tool to evaluate radiation exposure from commonly ordered diagnostic imaging procedures as well as links to other websites discussing this issue. Additionally, AIM also informs physicians when they attempt to order diagnostic imaging studies for patients who have already been exposed to high levels of radiation from previous imaging studies.

"AIM's Patient Safety program offers patients and physicians with the resources needed to make informed decisions," said Dr. Soffa. "We hope that the information contained in the NEJM encourages them to take advantage of those resources."