Video: Improvements in diagnostic technology

A New Study Examines Familiarity, Fear and Radiation Dose
in a Patient's Decision to Undergo Potentially Life-Saving Scans

If a patient is familiar with a specific medical scan, such as MR, PET, or CT scans, chances are significantly greater he/she will agree to undergo an exam at a physician's suggestion. Despite recent media coverage about how much radiation is too much radiation; most adults have little idea which tests use radiation and which don't! These are just some of the findings of a new study conducted by Braun Research.

The study, released by the Siemens Radiation Reduction Alliance (SIERRA), an expert panel established to advance the cause of dose reduction in medical imaging, looked at the decision-making process of more than 1,000 U.S. adults in response to situations where a medical scan is recommended by a physician. While the majority of respondents would proceed with suggested exams, there were clear trends among those who would not. Among the most common reasons cited; the exam might not be necessary; I'd want other options; and I don't know enough about the exam.

So what should patients consider before undergoing a scan? What are doctors really looking to find when they suggest a scan? What are the major differences between all of these tests? Don Rucker, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Siemens Healthcare, answers these questions and more, live from Chicago, Illinois, where thousands of physicians and imaging experts are gathered for the Radiological Society of North America's annual conference.

Don Rucker, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Siemens Healthcare
Don Rucker is the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Siemens Medical Solutions USA, the healthcare division of Siemens. Dr. Rucker came to Siemens from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston where he was the first full-time Emergency Department attending and from Datamedic Corporation. At Siemens, Dr. Rucker helps direct outreach on the broad portfolio of imaging products, has testified in front of Congress and has worked with Federal Agencies evaluating imaging technologies. Dr. Rucker served on the Board of Commissioners of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology and on the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee. He also practices emergency medicine in the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

- For more information: www.usa.siemens.com/healthcare