ICE Magazine January 2022 by MD Publishing

JANUARY 2022 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 1

THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

ADVANCING MAGAZINE

IMAGING PROFESSIONALS

IN FOCUS SHARON MOHAMMED

PAGE 12

PRODUCT FOCUS POCUS & MOBILE IMAGING PAGE 30

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FEATURES

44 DIVERSITY

42 PACS/IT/AI

The Joint Commission has issued a sentinel event alert about addressing health care disparities.

Mark Watts discusses how Stanford University has opened a Center for HumanCentered Artificial Intelligence.

34 COVER STORY

A new RSNA AI Imaging Certificate offers handson training for radiologists.

OFF THE CLOCK

Michelle Sparrow, MBA, RN, and her husband popped an idea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

JANUARY 2022

18 PRODUCT FOCUS In this issue of ICE, we look at POCUS and other mobile imaging options.

IMAGING NEWS

The latest medical imaging news from around North America.

10 RISING STAR

Haley Brock, BSRT, RT(R)(CT), is a multimodality technologist in X-ray and CT at Children’s Health Dallas.

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JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

MD Publishing 1015 Tyrone Rd. Ste. 120 Tyrone, GA 30290 Phone: 800-906-3373 Fax: 770-632-9090

SPOTLIGHT

Rising Star Haley Brock, BSRT, RT(R)(CT)

John M. Krieg john@mdpublishing.com

In Focus Sharn Mohammed, BSRT (R) CT

Vice President

Rad Idea Responding To Coworkers

Off the Clock Michelle Sparrow, MBA, RN

President

Kristin Leavoy kristin@mdpublishing.com

Publisher

Megan Strand megan@mdpublishing.com

Editorial

John Wallace

Art Department Karlee Gower Taylor Powers

Account Executives Jayme McKelvey

Events

NEWS

Imaging News A Look at What’s Changing in the Imaging Industry

PRODUCTS

Kristin Leavoy

Market Report POCUS Market Revenue to Exceed $4.8B

Webinars

Product Focus Portable Imaging

Jennifer Godwin

Digital Department Cindy Galindo Kennedy Krieg

Accounting Diane Costea

Editorial Board

Laurie Schachtner Nicole T. Walton-Trujillo Mario Pistilli Jef Williams Christopher Nowak

ICE Magazine (Vol. 6, Issue #1) January 2022 is published by MD Publishing, 1015 Tyrone Rd., Ste. 120, Tyrone, GA 30290. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ICE Magazine at 1015 Tyrone Rd., Ste. 120, Tyrone, GA 30290. For subscription information visit www.theicecommunity.com. The information and opinions expressed in the articles and advertisements herein are those of the writer and/or advertiser, and not necessarily those of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. © 2022

CONTENTS

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

INSIGHTS

38 40

Rad HR My Life, My Path. Are You In?

PACS/IT/AI Human Centered AI & CAD report deployment

Diversity Sentinel Event Alert Addresses Health Care Disparities

Emotional Intelligence Putting the Right People in the Right Positions

49 53 54 58

Roman Review Benjamin Franklin Effect

Director’s Cut Dilemma of Hiring Internally Versus Externally

AMSP Member Profile

ICE Break Index

ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

WHAT’S INSIDE MATTERS WHAT’SINSIDE INSIDEMATTERS MATTERS WHAT’S

We deliver an inside advantage you can’t get elsewhere: We deliver inside advantage you can’t get elsewhere We deliver anan inside advantage you can’t get elsewhere:

Internal supply chain supporting hundreds of probes and MRI coils hundreds Internal supply chain supporting hundreds • •ultrasound Internal supply chain supporting of of • Engineering expertise includes transducer ultrasound probes and MRI coils ultrasound probes and MRI coils plastic expertise molding, 3D printing, cable Engineering expertise includes transducer • •arrays, Engineering includes transducer harness fabrication, and precision lenses arrays, plastic molding, printing, cable arrays, plastic molding, 3D3D printing, cable • Repair processes informed byprecision our legacy in harness fabrication, lenses harness fabrication, andand precision lenses registered manufacturing Repair processes informed legacy • •FDA Repair processes informed by by ourour legacy in in FDA registered manufacturing FDA registered manufacturing

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SPOTLIGHT

RISING

STAR HALEY BROCK FUN FACTS Favorite hobby: Antique shopping

Favorite show to binge watch: “True Crime” documentaries or any documentary about the royal family

Favorite food/food combination: Since I am a Texas girl, I love a good Tex-Mex restaurant.

1 thing on your bucket list: I have a friend over in England that I met back when I waitressed five years ago. We have been talking every day since then, so I would love to go to England and reunite with her again.

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

riginally from Saginaw, Texas, Haley Brock, BSRT, RT(R)(CT), is a multimodality technologist in X-ray and CT at Children’s Health Dallas. Brock graduated with a bachelor’s degree in radiologic technology from Midwestern State University in May of 2019 and is almost three years into her “dream profession.” She was also recently named the vice president of the North Texas Radiologic Technologist Society. GE Healthcare Radiology Applications Trainer Brandon Smith nominated Brock for this recognition. “I meet many rising stars, and choosing to highlight one person does not discount the extraordinary trajectory of any other,” said Smith. “Haley Brock is a phenomenal professional I met as a student intern. Regardless of the challenge, she has unselfishly dedicated herself to professional development, advocacy and teamwork. Ms. Brock will continue to rise while uplifting others. I look forward to seeing her success and how she will inspire the next inspiration. She is without a doubt becoming a leader amongst leaders.” ICE learned more about this “Rising Star” in an interview.

Q: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GET INTO THIS FIELD? A: It’s actually a funny story. I was a completely different major at another university when I realized that this wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life. So after my first two years of school, I moved back to Forth Worth and finished my associate of arts to get my core classes done. I knew I wanted to be in the medical field but wasn’t sure exactly what that meant for me. So in my spare time, I started volunteering at a hospital near my home. From there, I would help volunteer in different departments and units to get an insight of the day to day tasks of everyone’s role. One of the departments I got to get a glance into was radiology and instantly fell in love. I then began

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to research schools and ways to get into the profession, and that’s when I found Midwestern State University.

Q: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR POSITION? A: I love being able to see a variety of patients on a daily basis. I work at a Level 1 pediatric trauma center and a pediatric orthopedic hospital where the workflow is constant. So, I get such a wide range of patients and their families, and a lot of the time I’m able to do the patient’s exams both in CT and X-ray which makes it very special.

Q: WHAT INTERESTS YOU THE MOST ABOUT THE IMAGING FIELD? A: Radiology is such an interesting profession which I feel like doesn’t get a lot of representation. It is a profession of constant advancement in technology. I personally love radiology because it combines the joys of patient care and imaging technology. This allows me and other imaging professionals to help the patient both directly and indirectly with imaging as an aid in diagnosing.

Q: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN YOUR FIELD THUS FAR? A: Well, as I mentioned earlier, I am still new to the profession, so I still have a lot more accomplishments to be had. However, I think my top three accomplishments I’ve had so far are graduating from X-ray school, graduating from computed tomography (CT) school and landing two of my dream jobs in pediatric radiology.

Q: WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS? A: Health care has taken such a toll on everyone in the past couple of years that everything about the industry has changed, which really shifts my perspective on what I want to do in the future. I can see myself getting my master’s degree so that I can teach and or possibly get into the administration side of radiology. I will possibly get another radiology specialty, such as MRI.

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT

IN FOCUS SHARON MOHAMMED

BY JOHN WALLACE

emorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Advanced Imaging Specialist Sharon Mohammed, RT(R)CT, ARRT, is an award-winning imaging leader. She was recently recognized by Aunt-Minnie as the Most Effective Radio-logic Sciences Educator for 2021.

Sharon Mohammed is seen with her team at NYU Langone Health.

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

In addition to her service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mohammed is also an international fellow with RAD-Aid, an organization that supports underserved areas around the world with radiology education and equipment. One could say that her introduction to diagnostic imaging began with a phone call. “I worked in an imaging center as a receptionist while in college,” Mohammed told ICE magazine in an exclusive interview. “I thoroughly enjoyed interaction with cover-ing radiologists, learning about the modality and important pathologies. It seemed like the ideal career, combining academic chal-lenge and professional rewards with doing something meaningful for others.” “Radiology has always adopted a multidisciplinary team approach,” she added. “We are part of a team of technologists, radiologists, IT technicians and nursing staff. Working as part of that team of people is a wonderful experience.”

It is clear that she loves her job. She was quick to respond when asked why. “I would highly recommend radiology as a career. It may not be the specialty that first jumps to mind, but there are so many different subspecialties and the diverse imaging techniques, there is sure to be a role in radiology that suits many. The demand for radiological investigation is ever increasing, so it would be reasonable to suggest the demand for technologists will increase as well,” she said. “For me, and for the technologists I work alongside, patients are more than just patients – they are people. I enjoy getting to know my patients and their families. I learn their story, where they are from, their hobbies and what they hope to get back to after recovery. Patient interaction, having an impact on the delivery of care and positive patient outcomes can be very meaningful and fulfilling.” “It can be demanding, but I enjoy the challenge that every shift presents – the opportunity to learn and provide compassionate care is always worth the effort,” she added. “Being a technologist is a team sport. Whether I am working on the floor with colleagues or collaborating with other educators, this field gives me the feeling of being part of a team. The best thing about being a technologist is the privilege of being with people in some of their most vulnerable times. It has been a humbling privilege ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

to share moments with the patients and their families. It is a privilege to hold the hand of a patient when it is needed most. It is a privilege to teach the technologists of tomorrow. Being a technologist is a privilege.” Mohammed, who has led a team of Computed Tomography technologists at NYU Langone for 20 years, provided a thoughtful answer when asked about her leadership style. “Leadership is an interesting concept. At one level, it’s massively complex. At another level, it is deceptively simple,” she explained. “There are a lot of different ways to think about and conceptualize leadership. Leadership is about building something great together. It is about thinking about the next generation of leaders: Rather than being threatened by someone down the chain with good ideas, it is about embracing them and developing them – and creating a true leadership pipeline for your organization. Leadership is about being a doer, seeking new opinions, showing support and solving problems.” “It is about knowing you still need to grow and learn and become curious and get better at your responsibilities,” she added. “Leadership is about soft skills such as effective communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem solving, work ethic and interpersonal skills. It is about developing new skills and thinking about concepts in new ways. Most importantly, leadership is about respect. When employees are treated with respect, they tend to pay it forward to others.” Mohammed has received guidance and insights from mentors including Omer Awan, Bradley Spieler, Justin Ream, Larry Latson, Andrew Rosenkrantz, David Bates and Lior Molvin. “I’ve been fortunate to have a number of knowledgeable mentors who have helped me develop professionally and personally,” she said. “In my experience, mentors are WWW.THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

a fantastic way to gain insight into where your career may lead. A strong relationship with a mentor has helped me challenge myself, to improve and grow. The relationships and lessons learned during periods of my career have had a long-lasting and positive impact.” “They have all been extremely generous with their time, their knowledge and their willingness to help me find my way in my career,” Mohammed continued. The next generation of imaging professionals can look to Mohammed for inspiration. She is also eager to serve as a mentor for those starting out in their career. “I hope to be able to continue contributing to improving patient outcomes and to mentor the next generation of radiologic technologists,” she told ICE magazine. “It is a struggle to establish an environment and culture where ethnic minority women thrive and fully participate as vital members of their profession. Being a minority woman, continuing and increasing support of units and academic programs which promote intellectual as well as representational diversity I hope, will improve opportunities for underrepresented women in radiology. I am honored my perspectives and experiences, that of an ethnic minority woman are recognized, and my intellectual contributions have been highlighted. I am honored my innovative research and pedagogical techniques have been the recent spotlight on many platforms in radiology. I am hopeful it will engage other women and minorities, providing them with opportunities to continue to bring key perspectives to our profession. As an ethnic and minority woman who differs from the mainstream, I am hopeful this recognition of high professional service will positively influence career development and productivity of others.” •

What is the last book you read? “Humble Leadership” by Edgar Schein Favorite movie? I like romantic movies, any and all romantic comedies. What is something most of your coworkers don’t know about you? Nobody knows that I’m painfully shy. What is one thing you do every morning to start your day? I start my morning with gratitude. Over the course of my day, it is easy to focus on the negative things that happened. Life can get pretty stressful - from morning commute traffic to depressing news to never-ending email chains, it can be easy to get stuck in a negative cycle. Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions. Being thankful for what I have helps me to shed any negativity I am carrying around and open myself up to the positive side of life. Best advice you ever received? … never look back” from Justin Ream, MD. Who has had the biggest influence on your life? The most influential people in my life have always been the people closest to me. My family is small but supportive. My parents taught me and my brother a strong work ethic – to aim high, work hard and value relationships. My parents have nurtured me, guided me and comforted me. What would your superpower be? Agility What are your hobbies? Writing, travel, cooking, being outdoors What is your perfect meal? Surf and turf, lobster and perfectly grilled rib-eye

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT

Rad idea RESPONDING TO COWORKERS BY JASON RANDALL

ason Randall is the author of “Beyond The Superhero: Executive Leadership For The Rest Of Us.” Randall earned his MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School Management and shares some wisdom regarding leadership. “When confronted with a coworker struggling with a difficult situation, our mindset should be centered on what response is helpful and what is not helpful,” Randall says.

NOT HELPFUL: • Denying or minimizing authentic feelings of anger, fear, pain and loss in yourself or others • Shutting down communication/ discussion of these feelings • Making the situation about you, instead of addressing the individual’s unique challenges

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

In short, we need to be authentic in our human interactions, and not force an artificially positive response.

HELPFUL: • First, clarifying what we’re trying to achieve by discussing our concerns. Fundamentally – in the moment, are we talking, or are we solving? And it’s OK to be talking, as that can help the person add context and perspective to the issue. However, we need to (perhaps gently, and perhaps over a series of conversations) evolve the focus to workplace performance. • Acknowledge the feelings; don’t try to convince your coworker that things aren’t really that bad, or that we all have struggles. • Instead, encourage a detailed conversation … so much of the struggle can be feeling overwhelmed or un-

sure. Specificity can help tame the amorphous beast of doubt and fear. • Encourage the coworker to focus on things within his/her control (what Shawn Achor refers to as the Zorro Circle). Within the challenging situation, what can we do about it? This is part of building a resilient mindset, which leads to a positive approach from a genuine place. This focused mindset ultimately helps our teammates (and ourselves) develop a positive, solutions-oriented way of thinking. We can acknowledge that bad things happen, and that they are genuinely bad, while still guiding thoughts and actions to a more positive future. • Share your RAD IDEA via an email to editor@mdpublishing.com.

ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

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SPOTLIGHT

Off Clock THE

MICHELLE SPARROW, MBA, RN

BY MATT SKOUFALOS

rowing up in the Midwest, Michelle and Ryan Sparrow were surrounded by the agricultural business. Michelle was raised on a family farm in Illinois; her husband, Ryan, and his father ran a small popcorn operation prosperous enough to pay for his Purdue University education.

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

Years later, even when Ryan’s work brought the family to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metro area, they always believed they’d return home to the Midwest. They didn’t necessarily anticipate the return to popcorn that followed, however. In the meantime, Michelle Sparrow embarked on a 28-year health care career; one that took her from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, where she earned both her BSN and RN degrees, to Villanova

University in Pennsylvania, where she completed an MBA as well. Upon moving East, Michelle worked in cancer screening for a private endoscopy practice, and then became a nurse administrator and surgery unit manager at the University of Pennsylvania health care system. There, she eventually assumed an administrative role at the Abramson Cancer Center, overseeing oncology operations, including radiation therapy. In February 2020, when her ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

youngest daughter graduated college, Michelle Sparrow started planning for opportunities outside of the health care field. Fortuitously or not, Sparrow’s departure from Penn came right at the outset of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States. When the pandemic hit, the family’s Haddonfield, New Jersey household went from empty nest to full almost overnight. The Sparrows’ second daughter, who lives nearby in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, often stopped in with her young daughter. Their third daughter, an oncology nurse at Penn, moved in with her mom and sisters while she looked for a house outside the city. The youngest daughter, a graduate-school student who had begun a high-school teaching career, was already living at home. “In those months, we joked that our house was a remote branch,” Sparrow said. “Kids were doing remote school, I was teaching remotely, my daughter was teaching remotely. Our house was bursting with activities. It was not what I anticipated from the early days of my retirement.” While the family home was bursting with activity, Ryan remained in Illinois for the better part of nine months. There, he worked to ramp up Urban Farmer, a gluten-free pizza business he had co-developed, for a private-equity sale. He didn’t return to New Jersey full-time until December 2020, when the deal was completed. Afterwards, he was ready to revisit an idea that had been percolating from his childhood. “Ryan always knew he wanted to get back into popcorn,” Michelle Sparrow said. “With his expertise in gluten-free manufacturing and food manufacturing, it made a lot of sense. So, we started with popcorn in March 2021.” A year after the pandemic broke, the family was all-in. Together, they launched Sparrow’s Snacks, a homemade food business based around premium, high-quality ingredients, WWW.THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

Michelle Sparrow enjoys working with family members.

like organic corn, grass-fed Irish butter, pure coconut oil and sea salt. They also resolved to create allergen-safe products, which meant using gluten-free (or reduced), nut-free, and vegan or limited-dairy recipes, even if doing so meant the products would cost more to make. Among the foundational principles of the business, Michelle Sparrow said the most important is creating food that she could feed to her own family without worrying about its integrity. The business has grown a steady following among customers who appreciate both gourmet snacks and an allergen-friendly product. “I worked in an industry where, for 25 years, I had a built-in mission to take care of people,” she said. “It’s so easy to get onboard with that mission. “Our daughters have had some health challenges, including Type I diabetes and celiac, and we recognize the challenges of inflammation,” Michelle Sparrow said. “We’ve committed to eating organic, reduced gluten, and reduced dairy. Creating a healthy environment for people, individuals and families — that’s the same format with which we’re building our store,” she said. “We’re working hard on building a

place that’s a destination for people to gather; a super-neat indoor space that’s connected to the outdoor space,” Michelle Sparrow said. “We came at it from the perspective of being a great place to gather; through to the design aesthetic, it really is form following function.” Until the storefront is completed, Sparrow’s Snacks is a mail-order-only business that pops up on special occasions, including street fairs, private parties and other local events. When it’s time to vend popcorn onsite, the family relies on its showstopper: a vintage, heirloom popcorn wagon that dates back to 1906. Originally steam-powered and horse-drawn, they joke that it’s now pulled by Sparrows. While the business finalizes plans for its brick-and-mortar footprint, Michelle and Ryan’s oldest daughter, Abigail, has joined Sparrow’s Snacks full time to support its online operations. As the director of customer engagement, Abigail, a former digital media producer in Los Angeles, handles all client-facing interactions. Mom and dad manage production and flavor development, and are also working to secure an industrial manufacturing facility from which to expand the business and support the production of other gluten-free foods and food manufacturers. “We’re looking at the potential of helping people commercialize their product in a different way,” Michelle Sparrow said. “A year ago, our plan was to say, ‘Do you want to try this?’ Now we’ve grown into a full-fledged business.” •

Michelle and Ryan Sparrow launched Sparrow Snack during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ICEMAGAZINE

NEWS

Imaging News A LOOK AT WHAT’S CHANGING IN THE IMAGING INDUSTRY

GE BECOMES 3 COMPANIES GE has announced its plan to form three global public companies focused on the growth sectors of aviation, health care and energy. A news release states that GE plans to accomplish the split by: • Pursuing a tax-free spin-off of GE Healthcare, creating a pure-play company at the center of precision health in early 2023, in which GE expects to retain a stake of 19.9 percent; and • Combining GE Renewable Energy, GE Power, and GE Digital into one business, positioned to lead the energy transition, and then pursuing a tax-free spin-off of this business in early 2024. • Following these transactions, GE will be an aviation-focused company shaping the future of flight. The news release states, “As independently run companies, the businesses will be better positioned to deliver long-term growth and create value for customers, investors, and employees, with each benefitting from: • Deeper operational focus, accountability, and agility to meet customer needs; • Tailored capital allocation decisions in line with distinct strategies and industry-specific dynamics; • Strategic and financial flexibility to pursue growth opportunities; • Dedicated boards of directors with deep domain expertise; • Business- and industry-oriented career opportunities and incentives for employees; and • Distinct and compelling investment profiles appealing to broader, deeper investor bases.” •

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

LUNIT GETS FDA NOD Lunit has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its AI-powered chest X-ray triaging solution, Lunit INSIGHT CXR Triage. Lunit INSIGHT CXR Triage is a computer-assisted triage and notification software that analyzes chest X-ray images for the presence of pre-specified suspected critical findings. According to the company, the product is designed to triage and prioritize emergent cases such as pleural effusion and pneumothorax immediately after the exam, to have the findings notified to the physicians, thereby reducing the time-to-diagnosis of urgent cases. The product is trained with over 160,000 chest radiographs with CT images and shows excellent performance of 94~96% sensitivity and 95~99% specificity on pleural effusion and pneumothorax. (ROC AUC=0.9864 and 0.9973 respectively). The high accuracy with instant prioritization of the patient X-rays can optimize workflow and help medical professionals provide timely treatment. •

ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

DETECTION TECHNOLOGY UNVEILS X-ACE Detection Technology has unveiled an off-the-shelf detector series optimized for value and mainstream medical computed tomography (CT) imaging needs. The plug-and-play-type series, branded as X-ACE, is available as stand-alone detector boards, X-ACE 16, and X-ACE 32, and alternatively as complete subsystems that include ready-made detector boards, controllers, software libraries and all the necessary accessories. The investment-free X-ACE series brings notable total cost savings and speeds up the time-to-market of advanced CT systems in the highly competitive medical imaging segments. The X-ACE product family is built on the well-proven and modular platform. The platform covers a wide imaging area and features the highest level of integration, as a scintillator, a photodiode, analog-to-digital converters (ADC), and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) are assembled to a single printed circuit board (PCB). This means simplified system designs, straightforward integration, minimized risks, a streamlined supply chain and detector solutions that are mechanically more robust and digitally enhanced. The platform easily scales up from 16-slice to 32-slice system configurations to cover a wide range of set-ups and provides 20-millimeter coverage at the isocenter.

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The X-ACE provides high image quality with low doses at fast scanning speeds for enhanced patient safety and experience. State-of-the-art performance is achieved by a pixelated, ultra-fast ceramic scintillator, coupled with a high-performance frontside-illuminated (FSI) photodiode. The characteristics of the most sensitive and ultra-low dark current photodiode are made possible by utilizing Detection Technology’s proprietary FSI photodiode manufacturing process. • For more information, visit deetee.com.

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

NEWS

HEALTHMARK ADDS TO COOL AIDS LINE NEW 3.0T MRI NAMED FOR HEALTH CARE HEROES GE Healthcare has unveiled SIGNA Hero, a new 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system named in honor of all the health care workers who continue caring for the global community amidst today’s COVID-19 pandemic. Offering new workflows and AIR Recon DL enhancements, SIGNA Hero is designed to help those on the frontlines meet today’s most pressing needs. With better image quality, enhanced workflows, increased productivity, improved patient comfort and greater sustainability, SIGNA Hero aims to make challenging exams simpler, turning “difficult” to “routine.” “True heroes are built for any challenge, and today’s health care workers have proven themselves true heroes,” says Jie Xue, president and CEO, magnetic resonance imaging, GE Healthcare. “While the world’s health care heroes cared for patients on the frontlines, our GE Healthcare team kept working the background on cutting-edge technologies to help reduce the burden on clinicians and improve patient outcomes. The result is SIGNA Hero – a system dedicated to all those who always care for our global community.” GE Healthcare designed SIGNA Hero to help accommodate more patients of all shapes and sizes, offering a 70 cm bore and detachable table for enhanced patient comfort. Additionally, the system unlocks new clinical workflows for today’s health care heroes, leveraging artificial intelligence to improve the clarity of images while increasing operational efficiency. This includes AIR Recon DL, GE Healthcare’s pioneering deep learning image reconstruction technology that works across all anatomies and offers clinicians a 30-50 percent reduction in exam times. •

Healthmark Industries has added the X-Ray Vest and Skirt & X-Ray Apron products to its personal cooling products line. Manufactured with a coated nylon fabric exterior and equipped with lead-free core material, the X-Ray Vest and Skirt & X-Ray Apron are designed to keep individuals cool, while also protected from radiation exposure. The X-Ray Vest and Skirt features both Velcro and buckles for quick release, with weight being evenly distributed between the shoulders and hips for maximum comfort during long procedures, included are pockets in the front and back of the vest for Cool Pax to help manage the core body temperature of the wearer. The vest has core material that is 0.5 mm lead equivalency at the overlap for front protection and 0.25 mm lead equivalency back protection. The X-Ray Apron is equipped with Velcro adjustable shoulder straps to help keep the apron secure. The pockets in the front and back are designed to hold Cool Pax that will help manage the core body temperature of the wearer. The six-inch elastic supports sewn in the back panel help distribute weight from the shoulders and hips for added back support and comfort. The core material is 0.5 mm lead equivalency for frontal protection. • For more information, visit hmark.com.

For more information, visit gehealthcare.com.

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

CT SCANNER WITH PHOTON-COUNTING TECHNOLOGY UNVEILED Siemens Healthineers has unveiled the NAEOTOM Alpha, the world’s first photon-counting CT scanner. The system is cleared for clinical use in the U.S. and Europe. Conventional CT imaging has reached its technical limitations: Resolution can only be improved by small margins and dose cannot be reduced significantly: Photon-counting technology enables drastic improvements. These improvements include an increase in resolution and a reduction in radiation dose by up to 45 percent for ultra-high resolution (UHR) scans compared with conventional CT detectors with a UHR comb filer. This would be impossible with conventional detectors. Photon-counting scans contain more useable data, due to the fact that photon-counting technology directly detects each X-ray photon and its energy level instead of first converting it into visible light as with conventional CT imaging. These aspects combined open up new capabilities,

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such as scanning a patient’s lung at a high scan speed and obtaining high-resolution images with inherent spectral information – without the patient having to hold their breath. This spectral information also helps to identify materials inside the body that can even be removed from the image should they obstruct an area of interest. This helps physicians to assess issues quickly and offers the possibility to begin treatment early. Through the reduction in radiation dose, regular examinations such as lung cancer screenings using CT imaging can become routinely available for larger patient populations. And the high resolution reveals even small structures, taking clinical decision-making to a new level of confidence. The technical complexity of photon-counting CT imaging does not mean increased complexity for the user, thanks to myExam Companion from Siemens Healthineers. •

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

NEWS MTMI PARTNERS WITH LIFETRACK MEDICAL SYSTEMS The Medical Technology Management Institute (MTMI) has partnered with Lifetrack Medical Systems to improve its PACS Administrator Course, allowing students to prepare for the Certified Imaging Informatics Professional (CIIP) certification exam while gaining hands-on experience working with the latest medical imaging distribution software, according to a news release. Students will work with LifeSys patented, an advanced configuration engine that allows information system administrators to manage and customize the desired radiology workflow across multiple facilities in one unified worklist, including automated DICOM routing. Leveraging this partnership allows MTMI’s onsite and remote learners to access a cloud-based enterprise PACS environment to learn the complex skill sets and competencies needed to deploy, troubleshoot, manage and maintain radiology and enterprise informatics, the release states. “We are committed to ensuring our students have the ability to access complex skills training to move up in their careers and help fill the in-demand roles during this unprecedented demand for health workers,” said MTMI President Jay Mazurowski. “This new partnership with Lifetrack allows students to become proficient PACS administrators, ensuring health care providers have streamlined distribution of medical images between physicians, patients and other caregivers.” “Using this hands-on training and distribution platform benefits patients by ensuring their information is getting to the correct people in a timely manner” said Heidi Stuplin, director of operations at Lifetrack. “Skilled PACS administrators can minimize system downtime to ensure timely distribution of electronic health information.” MTMI’s PACS administrator course also helps prepare students for the Certified Imaging Informatics Professional (CIIP) certification exam. Major topics include: a comprehensive guide to DICOM and HL7, teleradiology, PACS architecture, integrating the health care enterprise and electronic medical records. In addition, the release says that students will gain insights to the cutting-edge imaging informatics platform integrated into this cloudbased format. “PACS management and healthcare informatics require specific knowledge and skills unique to this technology. This partnership with Lifetrack will ensure informatics professionals have access to the most advanced training,” the release concludes. •

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

FUJIFILM ANNOUNCES VELOCITY MRI SYSTEM FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation, a leading provider of diagnostic imaging and medical informatics solutions, announced it will unveil the Velocity MRI System, its advanced, high-field open MRI system during the 2021 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference in Chicago. The Velocity MRI system is Fujifilm’s newest MRI scanner, designed to streamline workflow and enhance the patient experience with its unique open gantry, integrated radiofrequency (RF) coils and reconstruction technologies. The system’s anatomy-conformable Synergy Flex coil is the first of its kind for an open, vertical field MRI scanner, promoting fast abdominal and orthopedic imaging. “Velocity defines what today’s true Open MRI is about – the unique patient comfort and accommodation benefits of open-sided MRI now joined by the workflow and image quality benefits of integrated RF coils and enhanced reconstruction technologies,” said Shawn Etheridge, director of CT and MRI marketing for FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation. “We now offer a scanner that can differentiate a hospital or outpatient imaging service, while delivering outstanding image quality, short exam times and operator ease-of-use benefits.” The scanner’s unique, open gantry creates a spacious feeling for claustrophobic, bariatric, geriatric and pediatric patients. Additionally, the Velocity’s open-sided gantry provides easy patient access for real-time interventional procedures. The Velocity’s extra-wide patient •

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ZIEHM IMAGING PRESENTS NEW PRODUCTS At this year’s RSNA in Chicago, Ziehm Imaging presented a product range consisting of mobile C-arms and innovative imaging systems. Highlights being showcased at the event included a mobile CathLab with a 30 kW generator as well as Therenva’s image fusion solution. Earlier this year, Ziehm Imaging introduced the most powerful generator for mobile C-arms for its motorized RFD series and CMOSline flat panel detector. The 30 kW generator enables more clarity in imaging and sharper details. The new product is now available in the U.S. market. The mobile CathLab is built on the Ziehm Vision RFD Hybrid Edition Cardio, a powerful fully motorized C-arm for cardiovascular interventions. Together with the 30 kW generator, the mobile CathLab is a solution for challenging cardiology procedures and the cost-effective treatment of coronary indications. In addition to the motorized, versatile C-arm, the concept consists of an interventional table, a ceiling-mounted 55-inch display, and a hemodynamic monitoring station that monitors and documents the patient’s vital signs. Another highlight exhibited in Chicago is a powerful

all-in-one solution consisting of the Ziehm Vision RFD Hybrid Edition and Therenva’s EndoNaut endovascular 3D fusion navigation system. It combines preoperative CT data with intraoperative imaging to deliver greater precision in advanced hybrid surgical procedures. At the same time, it makes it possible to reduce the X-ray dose and the use of contrast media. • For more information, visit www.ziehm.com

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NEWS

PHILIPS EXTENDS AI-ENABLED CT IMAGING PORTFOLIO Royal Philips has announced new additions to its CT imaging portfolio. The new CT 5100 – Incisive – features CT Smart Workflow, a comprehensive suite of artificial intelligence (AI) enabled capabilities designed to accelerate CT workflows, enhance diagnostic confidence, and maximize equipment up-time, helping imaging services to enhance patient outcomes, improve department efficiency, reduce operational costs and meet ambitious financial objectives. CT 5100 – Incisive – with CT Smart Workflow includes Philips’ Tube for Life guarantee, which over the lifetime of the scanner can potentially lower operating expenses by an estimated $420,000. This newest CT innovation from Philips also provides access to Philips’ Technology Maximizer program, which provides users with the latest software and hardware updates as they are released. Improving the CT experience with smart clinical decision-making CT 5100 – Incisive – with CT Smart Workflow adds to Philips’ growing suite of AI-enabled smart workflow solutions, including the recently launched MR 5300 1.5T system and the new MR 7700 3.0T system. These recent smart systems introductions are all designed to support efficiency improvement, operator consistency and diagnostic confidence at the point of image acquisition by automating many of the time-consuming procedural tasks that radiologists, technicians and staff traditionally had to perform manually. CT Smart Workflow is the latest in a continuous program of performance enhancements for Philips’ Incisive CT platform, which includes a newly-designed patient table to accommodate bariatric patients; OnPlan gantry controls that demonstrate a 19% reduction in time to results; and the company’s process improvement services Enterprise Performance Analytics – PerformanceBridge. The CT 5100 – Incisive – with CT Smart Workflow demonstrates how integrated, AI-driven solutions connect clinical intelligence and operational data across the radiology enterprise to advance precision diagnosis and treatment. Philips’ latest innovations in CT imaging debuted at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting. •

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

TED SLOAN JOINS KA IMAGING Manufacturer KA Imaging has appointed Ted Sloan to its executive team. He will be leading the company’s channel strategy, strengthening its business development efforts. For over 30 years, Sloan held several executive roles at Merry X-ray Corporation/MXR Imaging, leading the company as president from 2012 to 2021. Sloan’s business acumen is rooted in ground-up sales experience and technical training, which will make him a major contributor to KA’s growth. Earlier this year, the company named other health care veterans to key leadership roles including Shawn Campbell as vice president of operations and Robert Moccia as vice president of sales, USA and Canada. •

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER RECOGNIZES RAD-PLANNING RADIOLOGY-Planning (RAD-Planning) has been recognized by University of Missouri International Trade Center as one of the top-growing Missouri exporters. RAD-Planning is a specialty radiology capital planning and design firm, based in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to work throughout the United States, RAD-Planning has been actively exporting design and consulting services to the Middle East region for more than a decade. Even during the difficult business conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, RAD Planning has actively continued developing opportunities for export with the state of Missouri and the U.S. Commercial Services. In 2011, RAD-Planning responded to an unusual email request for assistance in developing an MRI imaging suite in a government hospital in Saudi Arabia. That project began the firm’s export adventure which led to its recent recognition as the recipient of the 2015 Missouri State Representatives Award, the Missouri State Senate Award, and the Missouri Excellence in Business Award.

At the Mid-America Trade Summit, held November 2-3, RAD-Planning, was recognized as a 2021 Export Honoree. Accepting on behalf of the company was founding Principal Robert Junk, AIA, AHRA. “We didn’t originally have designs on becoming an exporting company ... in that respect, we sort of fell into it,” stated Junk. “But once we began, we realized that the value we bring to imaging capital projects – strategic planning, equipment planning and design – had tremendous value to clients outside the USA, in addition to our domestic clients. We owe a debt of gratitude to the export support we’ve received from both the state of Missouri and from the U.S. Commercial Services. They’ve contributed to our success, and to these awards, in many, many ways.” RAD-Planning is planning an early 2022 trip to exhibit at the enormous Arab Health conference in Dubai, as well as developing projects in Saudi Arabia, where they’ve opened a business development office. •

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When you’re ready to show the world you’ve arrived, you’re ready for our Fixed Base Medical Imaging solutions. Whether you need a permanent suite or a modular external structure for MRI, CT or PET/CT capabilities, our full array of turnkey options will have you covered from planning and construction, to equipment purchasing and staffing.

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NEWS

KA IMAGING SPONSORS ENCORE STAFF REPORT

he encore presentation of the ICE webinar “Improving Department Results with Single Exposure Dual-Energy Subtraction X-Ray: Clinical, Operational and Financial Benefits” was sponsored by KA Imaging. In the 60-minute webinar, experts Dr. Karim Karim and Jay Potipcoe reviewed the clinical, operation and financial benefits of Single Exposure Dual-Energy Subtraction (DES) X-ray. After viewing the presentation, attendees now understand dual-energy subtraction (DES) X-ray and the clinical benefits enabled by dual-energy in the early detection of small nodules identification, pneumonia, pneumothorax and coronary calcifications. Attendees also now understand the limitations of the old DES techniques and how a single-exposure detector can overcome those limitations. The presenters also explained the operational and economic benefits that come from using the dual-energy technique; and shared information more about current hospital implementations of 26

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single exposure dual-energy X-ray. Karim and Potipcoe opened the floor to attendees during a question-and-answer session that provided additional knowledge to participants. One question asked, “Are dual energy radiography and phase contrast X-ray imaging essentially the same thing?” “No, they’re not,” Karim explained. “Phase contrast X-ray imaging tries to look at the refraction in the X-ray. So, when an X-ray passes through an object it’s going to deviate slightly from its path because of the interaction in that material. Phase contrast X-ray has not really been clinically demonstrated on full-sized patients. I think it’s still in clinical study for breast cancer. It may not work as well for chest X-ray because the patient volumes are too large. Dual energy, on the other hand, is very different.” “It’s been around for 40 years and it’s looking at, as I mentioned earlier, the attenuation of different energy X-rays in different materials. So, in so dual energy use of materials, separation technique. Phase contrast is a technique that can

highlight soft tissue, but they are very different techniques.” Attendees provide positive feedback in a post-webinar survey that included the question, “How much new information did you receive from today’s webinar?” “A good amount,” imaging leadership member J. Kennelly said. “Lots!,” Imaging Technologist K. Hall said. “A lot,” Imaging Educator A. Harris added. • For more information, including on-demand webinars and a calendar of upcoming presentations, visit ICEwebinars.live. Thank you sponsor!

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Market Report POCUS Market Revenue to Exceed $4.8B STAFF REPORT

he point of care ultrasound market size is anticipated to record a valuation of $4.8 billion by 2027, according to a recent study by Global Market Insights Inc. Rising demand for low-cost systems, improved ease of use, and increased portability are some of the major factors that are propelling the market growth. Also, increasing birth rates and rising prevalence of chronic diseases globally are fueling the market expansion. Increasing birth rates worldwide is one of the prime factors that will spur the point of care ultrasound market progression during the forecast period. Ultrasound is one of the most common ways to detect birth defects. Doctors often suggest an ultrasound scan to check on the baby’s health and development to minimize the chances of complications. Also, ultrasound is more cost effective and safer when compared to other imaging technologies such as, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast angiography (CA) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that emits radiation. The diagnostic segment was valued at $2 billion in 2020. The demand for point of care ultrasound has increased as it is a painless procedure and does not require any needles or incisions. Moreover, patients are not exposed to radiation making the procedure safer than X-rays and CT scan. The handheld devices segment crossed $1 billion in 2020 led by its affordability over other imaging devices. Lower price has expanded the device market beyond hospitals to primary care physician. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for handheld ultrasound as it was WWW.THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

frontline diagnostic tool for COVID patients. The cardiology segment captured 18.5% of the market share in 2020. The demand for stand-alone and portable ultrasound systems increased as the number of cardiac patients increased. For instance, per a CDC report, in the U.S 659,000 die due to heart attack every year. Thus, with increasing number of people suffering with heart problems demand for ultrasound also increased to identify artery blockage and other cardiovascular problems. The ambulatory surgical centers segment is projected to witness 7% growth rate till 2027. The growth of this segment is due to efficient cost coverage policies. Also, the portability of point of care ultrasound devices makes it a suitable fit for remote ambulatory centers, single and multiple specialty ambulatory centers. An increasing demand for point of care ultrasound systems in ASCs also favor growth. The Asia Pacific point of care ultrasound market size was around $750 million in 2020 on account of the rise in health care expenditure in the region. For instance, according to a report by India Brand Equity Foundation, there was a 98% increase in foreign investment on medical devices in 2020. Some of the other factors contributing to the industry growth are technological advancements, increasing demand for the diagnosis of various diseases, growing public awareness about the need for diagnosis and government initiatives to support health care infrastructure in the region. Some of the prominent companies operating in the point of care ultrasound market include Siemens Healthineers, Canon Medical Systems, Esaote SpA, Fujifilm, B. Braun, GE Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips, Samsung MEDISON (SAMSUNG Healthcare), Fukuda Denshi Co. Ltd. •

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

PRODUCTS

Product Focus Portable Imaging

APOLLO arcc

Apollo’s enterprise imaging solution, the Apollo Repository for Clinical Content or arcc, supports encounters-based point of care ultrasound (POCUS) imaging workflows. This new strategy contributes to the ability for POCUS procedure reimbursements as a new revenue stream by centralizing the images in the patient record, thus improving documentation for reimbursement claims of these procedures. Using arcc streamlines POCUS image capture and improves patient care. There is no need to wait for an order – imaging can occur immediately during care. This saves physicians’ time, reduce steps during the care process and provide staff efficiency gains in addition to generating revenue.

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

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ECHONOUS Kosmos

CARESTREAM

DRX-Revolution Mobile X-ray System

Designed and manufactured by EchoNous in Redmond, Washington, Kosmos is the only ultra-mobile handheld POCUS device that combines diagnostic-grade imaging with continuous-wave Doppler capability. Kosmos’ AI-driven system enables semi-automated assessment of systolic heart function at bedside and is marketed under FDA’s COVID enforcement policy as an assistive tool for the detection and treatment of COVID-19. Paired with its Torso probe, Kosmos is rapidly emerging as a tool of choice for cardiologists and critical care practitioners. With Lexsa, the platform’s newly released 128-channel linear probe, Kosmos produces high-quality nerve, lung, vascular and musculoskeletal ultrasound images.

Carestream’s enhanced DRX-Revolution Mobile X-ray System provides radiographers with a streamlined user workflow, featuring an improved ergonomic design, functional LED lighting and more responsive display screens. Dedicated to both patient and provider safety, Carestream’s mobile solution plays an instrumental role in limiting the potential spread of infectious diseases by allowing operators to complete all general imaging examinations at the bedside. The DRX-Revolution delivers high-quality diagnostic images in the ICU, OR or wherever needed, reducing the need to transport patients throughout a facility.

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JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

PRODUCTS

KONICA MINOLTA HEALTHCARE AMERICAS INC.

mKDR Xpress Mobile X-ray System Konica Minolta introduced the mKDR Xpress Mobile X-ray System at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), November 28 – December 2, 2021. For exceptional imaging performance in a small footprint, the mKDR Xpress Mobile X- ray System, redefines portable X-ray. It’s Konica Minolta’s smallest and lightest portable X-ray system available today. Its slim design and collapsible column facilitates moving the system wherever needed, including tight spaces in the ICU, CCU and OR. Ease of use is assured with a customizable mobile-specific user interface, remote control and front and back collimator controls with laser alignment. The mKDR Xpress Mobile X-ray System is ready for the most demanding mobile X-ray imaging needs with on-board charging for two panels and front and back storage for panels and consumables. An industry-unique, tube-mounted graphical user interface and image preview function help ensure clear images are visible quickly. We bring the technology where you need it most, with the patient. For more information, visit https://healthcare.konicaminolta.us

PHILIPS Lumify

Lumify – a Philips handheld ultrasound solution powered by REACTS – provides integrated, telemedicine for real-time collaboration. Through Philips ultrasound clinical expertise in imaging, exclusive transducer technology and 3 dedicated transducer types, Lumify delivers high-quality ultrasound imaging from cardiac, lung, abdominal, vascular and superficial imaging through an ultra-mobile app-based device. Lumify powered by REACTS, allows efficiency and confidence when and where needed at the patient point of care.

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS SOMATOM On.site

The SOMATOM On.site mobile head computed tomography scanner from Siemens Healthineers brings point-of-care neuroimaging to intensive care unit (ICU) patients to avoid risky and time-consuming transports, reduce the risk of complications, and improve workforce efficiency and staff utilization. The unique telescopic gantry design allows the radiation source to move away from the patient during scanning, while the base and front cover of the gantry remain stationary, which helps provide consistent image quality. The easily maneuverable system has an integrated drive camera that enables real-time viewing on the built-in Touch UI display. The integrated head holder and shoulder board accessories allow convenient patient positioning. Scan workflow is easy with myExam Companion, an intelligent user interface powered by GO technologies, zero-click post-processing and automatic wireless image transfer to PACS. Self-shielded telescopic gantry covers combined with radiation shields on the bore’s front and back reduce scatter radiation and allow the technologist to remain with the patient during image acquisition.

UNITED IMAGING uMI 550

The uMI 550, with uEXPLORER PET technology inside, enables clinical flexibility with digital technology that prevents obsolescence. Its mobile configuration is a fully configured and air-cooled PET/ CT. With a mobile-specific workflow, it maximizes patient throughput to help cover multiple locations in the same day. The world’s first digital mobile PET/ CT, it’s kept modern by United Imaging’s commitment to Software Upgrades for Life, where United Imaging provides all the latest upgrades at no charge throughout the life of the system.

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COVER STORY

KNOWLEDGE

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ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

RSNA AI Imaging Certificate Offers Hands-on Training for Radiologists

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COVER STORY

s artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are ever more tightly integrated into clinical practice, the work among professional imaging societies has begun in earnest to close the knowledge gap between those who are familiar, even comfortable, with its applications, and those who may not have progressed to develop even a functional understanding of what they are and are capable of doing. At the end of 2021, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) introduced a new educational program, its Imaging AI Certificate, which is intended to deliver a pathway for radiologists to understand more about the various aspects of AI-driven technologies, and how to incorporate them within their radiology practices. The course curriculum was developed by a trio of instructors: Matthew B. Morgan, the Medical Director of IT and Quality Improvement for Breast Cancer Imaging at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, and an associate professor of radiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine; Linda Moy, a breast imaging specialist at NYU Langone; and George Shih, Professor of Clinical Radiology at Weill Cornell Medical College, both in New York, New York. Morgan described the program as “a unique offering” among presently available training materials that cover the adoption and use of artificial intelligence technologies in the imaging space because it offers “handson” exercises in which students perform some of the work that goes into training and testing a machine learning model. “This is a course designed for radiologists primarily, but will likely be of interest to other personnel within a radiology department,” Morgan said. “It introduces the concepts at a basic level and then proceeds to show how it can be implemented in the department.” “I think it will be of great interest to radiologists who are just getting started, as well as to those who are mid-to-late-career,” he said. “It really has some nice hands-on features that get beyond the didactic type of presentation. They’ll be able to annotate images, train an AI model, and see how their model performs.” Each of the learning modules are hosted online, and participants progress through them at their own paces, watching short videos of six to 12 minutes each, which are bundled into modules with interactive exercises. The modules span introductory information, data curation, data annotation and model building, model evaluation, AI ethics, and clinical implementation. Morgan said he hopes that, by getting under the hood of algorithm construction and testing, participants will be able to shed any apprehensions about the accessibility of AI technologies and their relevance to the day-to-day responsibilities of radiologists and their colleagues. “I think a lot of people just see AI as something that only highly technical people will understand, and I think, after completing the course, people will be able to say, ‘Now I get what an AI algorithm is,’ rather than have it be something that feels kind of scary and nebulous,” he said. “They will see what some of the pitfalls are in the process of creating these algorithmic models,” Morgan said. “An AI algorithm is essentially a choice of a method to use. Then when you apply that method to actual data, it becomes an AI model. You’ll learn that it’s humans putting circles around findings, and realizing that that could impact the results depending upon how the algorithm is trained. It matters how these models are trained because they’re only as smart as the training they receive.” The ethics portion of the course helps students to unpack “the more difficult questions” surrounding AI, he said, including understanding that algorithms are created with mechanisms to guard against conscious and unconscious biases from their creators. WWW.THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

COVER STORY

LINDA MOY Breast Imaging Specialist

“THE WIDESPREAD DISSEMINATION OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT AI CAN DO IN PRACTICE WILL GO A LONG WAY IN ALLEVIATING FEARS AND BUILDING TRUST IN PROMISING TECHNOLOGY.” - Kris Kandarpa

BILL McGINNIS Executive Director of Business and Sales at image analysis and AI specialist ContextVision

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

“For example, are there populations of people who are not included for some reason or another?” Morgan said. “We’ll give them a framework to be able to think about those things, to be able to talk to vendors about what they’ve done to mitigate for that kind of issue, and hopefully start to get people comfortable with the implementation component, which I think we’re barely starting to get into.” Lessons on AI implementation help imaging professionals hone their judgment about what these technological offerings are, and how to go about intelligently selecting the right one for their institutions. Once selected, these lessons can help instruct them on how to incorporate AI technologies within their systems, to understand how the technologies affect workflow, and to measure the performance of a system to ensure it achieves its intended goals. The genesis of the curriculum is rooted in the RSNA Informatics Committee, and the program took the better part of a year to develop, Morgan said. At least three additional modules will be created to supplement those available at the outset of the program, and the instructors will work to incorporate feedback from past students into subsequent offerings, Morgan said. “It’s an asynchronous, self-paced type of approach, where people will be able to do it in the time they have available,” Morgan said. “This is for radiologists, by radiologists, and it has these hands-on components that I don’t think I’ve seen anywhere else.” “We’ve seen so much hype around AI,” he continued. “It looks like the lower-hanging fruit of imaging findings that are time-sensitive — intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, these sorts of things — people are ready to work with. “As a field, we hope that there are more offerings that are not necessarily the computer trying to find things faster than the radiologist; offerings that are non-pixel-based,” Morgan said. “There’s a world of other things to apply this to: non-imaging-based applications, such as natural language processing, or other novel things that

could help with decision support for the radiologist, whether compiling data from the EMR or showing probabilistic diagnoses derived from text rather than from imaging. There are things that humans don’t see that a machine-learning-type system could be good at enhancing,” added Morgan. Moy believes a foundational understanding of AI tools will help radiologists make better use of AI products that are in development or on the market currently. “Are you going to invest in a technology that’s a black box?” Moy said. “These new AIs are very complex, and we don’t want to make the same mistake we did with computer-aided diagnosis (CAD),” These earlier AI tools did not deliver on the expectations that CAD could function as a second image reader. Not only did it not detect more breast cancers, but it actually prompted more false-positive findings. “We were all excited about CAD,” Moy said. “Shortly after these CAD systems came out, CMS provided reimbursement for this technology. This reimbursement and the wide availability of digital mammography led to widespread dissemination of CAD. More recently, CAD was bundled into the fee for interpreting mammograms. As a result, there is concern about the return on investment for AI tools. “To summarize, the ability to assess whether an AI model will work in clinical practice and issues regarding reimbursement for these AI tools have loom over radiologists who wish to purchase these AI products,” she said. “We are not going to be that naive again.” For radiologists who do not have a background in computer science, Moy hopes the RSNA course will help professionals “to really see if the AI product will fit into their practice.” “The unique aspects of our RSNA AI Certificate program are the short videos by experts, the case-based curriculum, and a hands-on approach with practice-based applications for radiologists,” she said. “This certificate will allow radiologists who are interested in AI to acquire fundamental competency in AI and assist them with accelerating their ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

COVER STORY career. These skill sets are essential in order to understand how to use AI algorithms in clinical practice, and to develop realistic expectations of how AI software may change clinical workflows.” After radiologists purchase an AI technology, it may be susceptible to “model drift,” Moy said; i.e., a change in performance after the initial model is established. As the gatekeepers of imaging technologies, radiologists must develop “this fundamental knowledge where you can peer beyond the hood of the car and figure out what is causing the change in performance,” she said. “One of our goals is that upon completion of this program, radiologists will understand whether a product really makes its claim,” Moy said. “[We want] to get mainstream radiologists to peer inside the black box of AI to get some practical education.” Although the program has been developed for radiologists, including those in private or academic practice, instructors believe it will be equally useful for medical students, residents and fellows. Moy argues that the more that health care professionals are involved in the development of these technical tools, the more patient care can improve. She believes the AI Certificate course will open doors to greater knowledge and understanding of how AI tools work, how they’re defined, and what their limitations are. “It’s going beyond what taking the vendor says at face value, and seeing whether these models really work for our own practices,” Moy said. Bill McGinnis, executive director of business and sales at image analysis and AI specialist ContextVision of New York, New York, said he believes that any efforts to drive greater understanding of what AI means among medical imaging professionals is a welcome one from the vendor perspective. “AI is such a generic term right now; it’s become more of a marketing term than anything from the technical side,” McGinnis said. “Any education we can get around AI in general is great. The more we can expose end-users to these different technologies, the more we can help to answer WWW.THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

questions and alleviate fears.” To McGinnis, that means explaining to prospective customers that “smart technologies” can help practitioners deliver more consistent results, make diagnostic choices more easily, and generally elevate the level of conversation around AI from the general to the specific. “The more we can take that top of the cake off and get into the good stuff, the special things that we have, that to me is an advantage to everybody,” McGinnis said. “It makes RSNA look good, it helps their members, because they now have a basic understanding, and it helps the vendor and the OEM because we can focus on our pitch and then the specifics of what we have that’s different.”

“THERE IS A LACK OF TRUST IN THE TECHNOLOGY, ITS EVENTUAL ROLE, AND A FEAR OF EROSION IN THE VALUE OF THE RADIOLOGY PROFESSION, ESPECIALLY AMONGST MEDICAL STUDENTS AND TRAINEES.”

- Kris Kandarpa Acknowledging that workflow support technologies were among the trendiest at RSNA in 2021, McGinnis pointed out that many AI-based imaging offerings are being developed for audiences other than radiologists. These might include clinicians who need assistance in decision support, but they’re just as likely to include people who encounter imaging technologies but who aren’t sonographers or X-ray technicians. “The high-end AI techs are targeted for everybody; the hand-held items are not for traditional radiologists,” McGinnis said. “They could be for EMTs, nursing staff, somebody in the ED who may be a skilled doctor, but has never trained on ultrasound.” “That’s a group that needs more education,” he said. “I have found more of a challenge closing a deal with that audience than with traditional radiol-

ogists. There might be a larger part of the audience, a larger segment of this market, that still needs to be educated. RSNA has been a driver of adoption before; hopefully more people follow the leader and we’re able to see this in more areas of medicine, not just in highly specialized societies.” Cardiovascular and interventional radiologist Kris Kandarpa, director of research sciences and strategic directions at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said that he’s pleased that more education on AI-driven technologies is finding its way into the field. “While the use of mature technologies, such as PACS and EHR, can be honed during residency/training years, it is still very important for a core group of radiologists (department leaders) to have in-depth knowledge and be involved in such purchasing decisions,” Kandarpa said. “AI is new to just about everyone in this field. There is little knowledge on what imaging-AI is, does, or how it can be best utilized in practice. There is a lack of trust in the technology, its eventual role, and a fear of erosion in the value of the radiology profession, especially amongst medical students and trainees.” As McGinnis noted, learning how AI may affect health care delivery goes just as well for “non-imaging professionals, especially non-radiologist physicians,” he said, adding that the additional understanding will help them to trust decisions radiologists make that are based in the use of AI. “Just as many radiologists learned MRI physics in their post-residency years, it is important for working radiologists to learn how AI may affect their practices,” Kandarpa said. “It is far too early to relegate the imaging-AI knowledge to a select few,” he said. “The widespread dissemination of an understanding of what AI can do in practice will go a long way in alleviating fears and building trust in promising technology.” •

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

INSIGHTS

MY LIFE, MY PATH. ARE YOU IN? RAD HR BY KIAHNNA PATTON

ave you seen the Amazon commercial that profiles an employee whose education was financially supported, even though it was unrelated to his role at the company? That financial investment represented a commitment to the employee’s well-being, even though it meant he would leave the company. The sense of gratitude and connection evoked by a company that supports employees’ dreams and aspirations is something that can be elusive. Many of us can only hope to work for a company whose leaders believe and act similarly when it comes to demonstrating an understanding that people bring their whole selves to work. (Note that my comments refer to the company’s support of employees’ aspirations and not the other issues that have plagued it.) Now back to the topic of the whole self. It’s not only about accepting the way people look or think. It also captures what they aspire to be in life, even when that does not include the company where they work. That’s a hard pill to swallow when financial investment is involved. But this type of respect and support for employees does not have to include money. Many of a company’s decisions are, of course, driven by financial gains and losses. It has to be the rare person who works and expects no pay, and the rare company that exists without the intention to make money. Even nonprofits need money to do great work. But should money be the primary driver when it comes to supporting the futures of employees? Money drives us to artificial commitment in the form of holding employees hostage for two years after they get a degree. Money pushes us to declare

ICEMAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022

that education financially supported by the company must be related to the person’s job. Thus, they must have permission to take courses that are unrelated to their current work. These constraints drive some employees to secretly invest in themselves with a plan to leave, while some stretch the truth to get support. What else could be the driver to support an employee’s dreams while also helping the organization succeed? Let’s step into reality. I doubt there exists a company with employees who don’t have a life outside of work. Some people own and run businesses while doing their 9-to-5 job. Some people are writing books, and people like me are writing articles. Some people moonlight and others are entrepreneurs in their off-hours. Some find it a little terrifying to tell the leaders at their companies what they do outside of work. I’ve been in countless interviews where I was questioned about the nonprofit I run and how I can do that and work an HR job. I’ve done both of these jobs (and more) for 10 years! I’m not a superwoman, although some of my friends may disagree with that statement. I say I’m motivated and, very importantly, I have a team of passionate and dedicated leaders who help me make mine and other people’s dreams come true. I would never consider not supporting an employee’s dream because it didn’t align with the vision of my organization. I won’t tell people what their dreams should be. I am happy to support and honor what they choose to do with their lives. If I can assist financially, I will. If I can help by being a reference, I will. If I can lend support by providing time off, I will. Because what I recognize is that whole people come to work, happy people stay at work and are likely to support you in the future. Ask the gentleman in the Amazon commercial who is now a medical professional. I do recognize that not every company has ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

the financial standing to give money without restrictions. But if you budget to support the educational aspirations of team members, maybe you can avoid limiting them to what you think their goals in life should be. Here are more things companies do to support the goals, dreams and life paths of their employees: • Financial support for nonprofit work – I worked for a company that sponsored my nonprofit (CALE Now! www. calenow.org) for two years in a row. The donation made a powerful difference for the children who benefited. We are forever grateful. • Time off to volunteer – Companies recognize the need for rejuvenation through service and offer paid time off for employees to give back. • Sabbaticals – Time off to pursue your passions or to restore your well-being is invaluable. • Lump sum of money to do as you please with it. No questions asked. • Flexible schedule - Some organizations support a change of work hours to accommodate class schedules and study time.

Here are a couple of questions I’d ask myself as I consider the engagement and commitment of people who report to me: • How can I create an environment that enables employees to live their dreams without fear of their commitment to the company getting questioned or their employment options being limited? • How might creating a psychologically safe environment impact their mental health, engagement and commitment? There are more questions and more things to consider from both the employee’s and the leader’s perspectives, but now you have a place to start. And the new year is as good a time as any to look forward. Happy 2022! May it be your best year yet. • Kiahnna D. Patton is senior human resources business partner at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and a nonprofit founder.

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JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

INSIGHTS

DILEMMA OF HIRING INTERNALLY VERSUS EXTERNALLY DIRECTOR’S CUT

BY NICOLE DHANRAJ

adiology hiring leaders often find themselves torn between growing from within or seeking new talent external to the organization. This is not a black or white answer, as you will first have to assess your current status and determine what is best for the department. Ideally, when a position opens up, we should first be thinking about potential internal candidates. Hiring internal candidates has numerous advantages. These include: • Supports career development for existing staff members • Increases employee engagement and retention. Employees have internal options instead of leaving to further their careers. • Transition for an internal candidate is easier as well as faster to onboard the candidate • The employee is already familiar with organizational culture and, therefore no challenges in assimilating. The employee has established relationships and knows internal processes, so the assimilation timeframe is reduced. Now before hiring internally, the hiring manager should consider several items. These include: • Ambition versus competency. An internal staff member may want the position to help grow their career, but they do not yet have the skills or the competency to succeed in the role. Ideally, before the vacancy, their manager should have identified the employee’s career goals during performance evaluations, so needed skills

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and competencies for future roles can be developed in an ongoing manner. By the time the position becomes open, the candidate will have the competitive edge for the job. Managers should identify employees’ potential and goals in performance reviews and coaching sessions and establish a career development plan. This plan can be implemented formally or informally. A formal succession plan would consist of the employee working alongside a leader consistently, earning a degree or certification, and eventually moving into the position. An informal program consists of mentoring and coaching with leaders within or external to the organization. • Likeability versus competency. Often, employees are offered a promotion internally because they are well-liked by the team. However, we must balance this likeability with their ability to perform the required functions of the job. Leaders should be careful not to offer a position to someone to help them with their growth without first ensuring they are the right fit for the department and could execute on the job requirements. • Current status of the operation. In some cases, you may need someone to take over the job responsibilities immediately, and as such, you cannot wait to move through the hiring process. Or the operation may be on fire, with too many challenges, and maybe there are limited resources that would have the capacity to help onboard, answer questions, and train a new person to integrate into their new position successfully. In this case, the internal candidate is a better option, as they are already familiar with the department ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

processes and the unique organizational culture and can navigate the departmental challenges. • Experience portability. Not all organizations are created equal. A leader in one organization may have been very successful, but these skills may not be applied or transferred effectively in the new organization/ role. The working environment, culture, organizational structure, and team are heavy influencers of the new employee’s success. There are general industry skills required, for example, budgeting, capital planning, performance evaluations, and recruitment and retention. However, specific skills are needed to thrive in your department/organization and navigate the politics, decision-making, and operational processes. Therefore, consider your unique environment and the skills and experience required for the new leader to lead the department effectively. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future performance if you apply a generic strategy recruiting your next leader. • External environment. Remote locations, housing availability, schools, and jobs for the candidate’s family may be a deterrent for an external candidate. Internal candidates are already established and can have little to no transition requirements. On the other hand, conditions that support the hiring of an external candidate include: • Stagnation. The department is stuck in old practices. Employees have considerable longevity and are accustomed to the operation that the department remains status quo. If you are looking to shake and wake up the operation and gain momentum, fresh eyes from an external candidate may help drive the innovation you seek. Managers can evaluate a vast number of canWWW.THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

didates from the external candidate pool to select the candidate with the skills and experience currently lacking within the department. • Lack of skills, knowledge, and abilities. Perhaps you have a team that is not ready for a leadership position or lacks the specific skills, knowledge, and abilities to fulfill the position’s duties. If there is no time to train and develop, or no one is willing to develop themselves further to transition into a leadership role, recruiting for a qualified external candidate is best. • Turnaround. If the organization is seeking to change the culture, turnaround the operations through changing the strategic direction, or disrupt current practices, finding an external candidate that matches the culture and can support the new initiatives will help facilitate the change • Onboarding process. Suppose there are sufficient resources to help onboard and train new employees to integrate into their position fully. In that case, there is an increased chance for the candidate to integrate successfully, and as such, you can consider pursuing an external candidate. The disadvantages of seeking external talent include lengthy recruitment and selection periods, unattractive compensation packages, a learning curve period that can be pretty lengthy, and increased costs associated with hiring. In some cases, the candidate’s expectations may be mismatched to the reality of the job situation. Unfortunately, they may turn in their resignation or in some cases, the candidate may not be able to deliver or meet the expectations from the team or organization and may be dismissed during their probationary period. Other considerations to keep in mind when faced with the dilemma of choosing an internal versus external

candidate include: • Don’t just throw money at external candidates. Consider developing a succession plan, especially in locations that are hard to recruit. Provide opportunities for employees to grow from within so that valuable employees do not have to leave to pursue higher-level positions. Even without formal programs, consider establishing an informal program to help support coaching and mentoring employees. • Consider the organizational culture, the team dynamics, and the status of the operation. If you seek an external candidate, ensure that they know the organization’s contextual situation and the expectations within their role. We want to ensure we hire the right candidate and set them up for success. Be open and honest with the situation and responsibilities of the job. Avoid a black and white strategy when it comes to hiring internally or externally. Hiring managers undoubtedly face dilemmas in choosing whether they should seek an internal or external candidate. However, keeping in mind these considerations will help facilitate your decision. Commit to evaluating the situation before your recruitment and selection process to determine which option would be best for the department. • Nicole Dhanraj, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, PMP, GPHR, CPSS, CRA, R.T(R)(CT)(MR), is a radiology systems director for Northern Arizona Healthcare.

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

INSIGHTS

HUMAN CENTERED AI & CAD REPORT DEPLOYMENT

S PACS/IT/AI MARK WATTS

tanford University has opened a Center for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. I think this is a testament that one of the most important interface issues that must be overcome is not between information technology applications. It is the friction regarding the acceptance AI assistance can provide. The deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in diagnostic radiology has been slowed by issues of effectiveness, trust, economics and regulation. I believe much of this can be mitigated by introducing a mechanism and infrastructure that support labeling of imaging studies at scale, automate cohort creation for algorithm training, provide real-world feedback on algorithms in development, and perform quality assurance and monitoring of deployed algorithms. This can be achieved by using computer-assisted interactive reporting technology as radiologists routinely interpret cases without burdening them. At RSNA 2021 there were hundreds of AI algorithms for diagnostic imaging applications that have been created by

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academic researchers and commercial developers, although only a small fraction of these have been FDA cleared for marketing. Use of AI in clinical practice remains limited. AI algorithms are fundamentally different from other medical devices and software in that they can learn. Algorithm development requires ready access to large volumes of accurately labeled training data, preferably with the image locations of pathology and significant findings annotated. For an algorithm to be generalizable and deployable in varied clinical settings, training data must reflect the diversity in the target patient population, equipment and protocols. Nonrepresentative training data will produce brittle, unreliable algorithms. A recent survey by the ACR documents that 9 of 10 radiologists find current AI algorithms to be inconsistent in accuracy. Building large, expertly tagged, generalizable data sets and keeping them current is expensive. As such, most FDAcleared AI algorithms for diagnostic radiology were trained with limited sets of retrospectively labeled data. They do not perform accurately in clinical practice, where the patient population ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

“Algorithm performance and patient safety may be further enhanced through safe, ongoing retraining of algorithms after clinical deployment, sometimes referred to as “continuous learning.”

and imaging protocols may differ from the data with which they were trained. The performance of deployed algorithms may degrade over time as patient populations evolve, modalities and acquisition protocols are updated, and the prevalence and characteristics of disease change, exemplified by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Presently, AI algorithms are “locked” at the time of regulatory clearance; improvements by retraining with new data must be rereviewed by regulatory authorities. This review process is manual, cumbersome, lengthy and squanders the opportunity provided by tools that can learn. Considering these limitations, regulatory agencies have signaled that ongoing surveillance and monitoring of algorithms may soon be mandatory to protect patient safety. Algorithm performance and patient safety may be further enhanced through safe, ongoing retraining of algorithms after clinical deployment, sometimes referred to as “continuous learning.”

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More frequent algorithm updates can be provided if infrastructure and tools that allow real-time monitoring and feedback on algorithm performance are used. An automated system that documents algorithm retraining and confirms performance on new real-world studies can dramatically accelerate development and enable more frequent regulatory conforming updates, promoting patient safety and engendering trust by radiologists. The best method of obtaining reliable feedback is review by interpreting radiologists during routine reading in a manner that does not materially slow interpretation. Manual approaches for feedback and monitoring, such as dialog questionnaires, impose on radiologists’ time and cause distraction. The application of natural language processing (NLP) to traditional text-based radiology reports for automatically extracting findings and comparing them with algorithm results is inaccurate, does not correlate findings in reports with locations on images, and is

only a partial solution. However, it is possible to enhance the reporting software with features that, in conjunction with NLP, could automate the feedback and monitoring process and provide data for labeling radiology studies at scale, in a manner that can speed up algorithm development and iterative improvements. In part two of this article, I will propose a list the steps to improve traditional text-based radiology reports with multimedia elements and interactive functionality. The focus is on the radiologist and adding ambient intelligence to their workflow. To do this we must design a frictionless information technology platform that provides all shareholders with value. Human-centered Artificial Intelligence … I think those leaders at Stanford may be on to something. • MARK A. WATTS is the enterprise imaging director at Fountain Hills Medical Center. Editor’s Note: This is Part I or a two-part series.

JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

INSIGHTS

SENTINEL EVENT ALERT ADDRESSES HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES

I DIVERSITY BY VERLON E. SALLEY

remember learning about my career in hospital administration when I was in graduate school. When we got to the chapter on regulatory agencies, I would equate the joint commission on accreditation of health care organizations (JACHO or TJC) as “The Hospital Police.” For those who do not know, The Joint Commission is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public. It is interesting that their 64th sentinel event alert is about addressing health care disparities by improving quality and safety. “A robust culture of equity depends on staff and providers recognizing that disparities may exist within a patient population and taking responsibility for reducing them,” Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. Translated plainly – our health care facilities need to educate their employees on health equity and be responsible for reducing them, because now it is a patient safety issue. Along with the requirements to meet this standard the Joint Commission sentinel event alert provides best practices recommendations: 1. Collect and stratify quality and safety performance data specific to the communities your organization serves and develop communication channels that enable you to listen and learn. 2. Analyze stratified data and community feedback to identify health care disparities and opportunities for improvement. 3. Commit to achieving diversity and inclusion as an important step toward addressing health care disparities.

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ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

4. Undertake initiatives to rectify health care disparities by building sustainable business cases. So, how does this correlate to radiology departments? Look to employ a staff that reflects the racial profile of the community you serve. Look to educate your staff on cultural competencies. Collect clinical data and stratify it by race, gender, ZIP codes, etc. to identify any disparities and/or inequities. Allow me to provide an example by asking questions about your radiology department. How many mammograms does your mammography department perform annually? 1. What’s the racial profile of your annual volume? 2. How many call backs does your mammography department have annually? 3. What’s the racial profile of your call backs? 4. What is the racial profile of your mammography bi-rad codes? 5. Are there any racial disparities in your data? The answers to these questions could lead you to develop initiatives and/or business plans to address the sentinel event alert. Moreover, it could be the start of increasing diversity in your departments to better serve your community. • VERLON E. SALLEY, is the vice president of community health equity

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INSIGHTS

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE BY DANIEL BOBINSKI

PUTTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT POSITIONS I

n 2001, researcher, consultant and author Jim Collins wrote a book titled, “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t.” I recommend this book as much today as I did 20 years ago, because Collins identified distinct actions and practices that separate above-average from average organizations. If an organization wants to move from being good to being great, it’s beneficial to know what those practices are and make a habit of them. Before I continue, allow me to state that one obstacle to improving a business is believing the organization is already above average. Perhaps you remember the tongue-in-cheek phrase from Garrison Keillor’ book, “Lake Wobegon.” Keillor’s now-famous setting was, “Welcome to Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.” Strangely, some organizations actually believe that about themselves. The problem? Companies that think they’re already great often fail to press forward into greatness. By way of an overview, Collins says the best first step to becoming great is for a company to identify its passion. This requires a brutally honest self-evaluation and a clear decision. Without a strong declaration 46

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of what an organization does any why they do it, it risks remaining mediocre. With that advice in place, let me move on to the bus analogy Collins uses to discuss the workforce itself. The bus represents the organization, and a primary task is getting the right people on the bus. Finding people who align with your vision, mission and passion is fundamental. That’s why it’s important to have good leaders who can articulate those things. But beyond that, a key step toward developing a great organization is making sure the people on your bus are sitting in the right seats. Allow me to share an example from my work with a major corporation. I was hired to teach a teambuilding course for senior and middle managers at the company’s four North America locations. The course was one day per month for six months. Three of the locations did great with the material and improvements were noticeable, but one location struggled. After a few months, I realized that Collins’ bus analogy applied. This location had the right people on the bus (everyone in management was super talented and all had a passion for the company’s mission), but half of them were sitting in the wrong seats. To offer a few specifics, a man who had strong experience in human resources was serving as an operations manager. A man who had experience as an operations manager was overseeing the maintenance ADVANCING THE IMAGING PROFESSIONAL

department. And, a woman with an extensive finance background was overseeing human resources. I met privately with the vice president overseeing that location, shared my observations, and suggested a few position swaps be made. He didn’t want to do it, and, as you might imagine, the team struggled. It wasn’t until that particular vice president was fired and replaced that the recommended changes were made. And, as I predicted, after people were put in positions where they could shine with their proven skills, productivity started humming along at a much-improved pace.

TWO PRINCIPLES FOR PLACING PEOPLE In a way, the organization mentioned above was fortunate. Although several key people at the one location were in the wrong seats on their bus, they were capable and had a passion for the company’s mission. Some organizations are struggling to get the right people on the bus to begin with. Getting the right people is a vital factor in the equation of creating a great organization. However, as many hiring managers already know, finding people who are the right fit is both an art and a science. Collins posits two principles, and I wholeheartedly agree with both of them. First, when in doubt, don’t hire – keep looking. Second, when you know you need to make a change in personnel, act right away. Regarding the “when in doubt, don’t hire – keep looking” principle, please underscore that statement and write it in cement. Making a hire because an applicant’s skills are “close enough” is analogous to the overused horseshoes and hand-grenades axiom. Time and again I’ve seen this scenario create more problems than it solves. In some cases, phenomenally more problems, including the loss of valuable, high-performing personnel. I acknowledge it’s painful to wait a long time to find a good fit, but wait. I also heartily endorse the principle of making changes right away when WWW.THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

you know they need to be made. If the vice president mentioned above had shifted people around when I’d recommended it, he might not have lost his job, and might have even been rewarded for making a huge, positive impact on that location’s productivity. By the same token, if you know someone needs to be outright fired, don’t dilly dally in doing it. In only a few limited circumstances have I seen it beneficial to keep someone around who needed to be cut from the payroll. Let me also address promoting someone beyond their capabilities. For example, if a person is promoted after doing well for many years in a previous position, but now is struggling, termination shouldn’t be the only option. If the person can serve the company in a different role, even if it involves a demotion to the previous role, discuss the options with him or her. I personally know several people who struggled in new positions after years of doing great work. Sadly, all were fired, even though they would have gladly taken a pay cut and gone back to what they were previously doing. Think of it this way. Each of those people were valuable employees who were kicked off the bus because someone in leadership made the mistake of taking them from their proper seats and putting them in the wrong seats. It is increasingly difficult to find good employees these days, but if you want a great company, wait for the best fit. Taking time to ensure people are in the best seat on the bus for their aptitude and skill set will go a long way to helping your company become great. •

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Daniel Bobinski, M.Ed. is a best-selling author and a popular speaker at conferences and retreats. For more than 30 years he’s been working with teams and individuals (1:1 coaching) to help them achieve excellence. He was also teaching Emotional Intelligence since before it was a thing. Reach Daniel on his office phone, (208) 375-7606, or through his website, www.MyWorkplaceExcellence.com.

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INSIGHTS

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN EFFECT

uring my Internet studies I came across something called the Benjamin Franklin Effect. This “effect” is a powerful effect on relationship building. It also seems a little counter intuitive. Here is the quote from the famous gentleman: “He that has once done you kindness will be more ready to do you another than he whom you yourself have obliged.” Studies indicate that when you do someone a kindness or favor you will like them more and be more willing to help them again. This is especially true if you tended to dislike them in the first place. According to his autobiography, Mr. Franklin apparently discovered this effect in an interaction with a rival legislator. The man had a rare book. Franklin asked to borrow it. He returned the book with profuse thanks and a good friendship was born. The Benjamin Franklin Effect is generally explained with cognitive dissonance theory. This theory suggests that we feel mental discomfort when we have two or more contradictory beliefs. If we tend to dislike an individual and we provide a favor for them, the dislike and the kindness cause conflicting feelings. To avoid the dissonance, we find a way to justify the kindness. We provided something positive to someone we maybe dislike. So maybe we don’t dislike them as we believed. He must be deserving of the favor and would likely return the favor. We kinda like this guy after all. It is important to note that if we were “put on the spot” and had to perform a WWW.THEICECOMMUNITY.COM

favor for someone we truly dislike or a complete stranger, there is insufficient justification for having performed the favor. Consequently, there is no expectation that the person would return the favor and no reason to believe that he is deserving of the favor. There is no reason to begin liking him. Another way to explain the “effect” is the self-perception theory. This theory suggests that when we have no preexisting attitudes or beliefs toward someone or something, we act on what we perceive from our behavior. When we do a kindness for someone with whom we have no meaningful existing relationship, we use the fact that we acted kindly to determine our feelings toward them. We must have positive feelings toward them because we did a kindness to them. As if all this is not enough, since we are dealing with humans and their feelings and emotions, there might be other situations to consider. There is a likelihood that if someone asks us to do them a favor it can make us feel acknowledged and respected. These are positive feelings that we attribute to the person who asked. And, we might provide a favor just because it is inconsequential to us. Or we might feel that there is personal benefit to providing the favor. So how is the “effect” implemented? Simply ask people for a favor when you think that this will prompt them to like you more. Of course, this is for those situations where they dislike you, feel neutral toward you or have no preexisting attitudes toward you. The “effect” may also work if you are liked a little. You will need to have a good concept of how these people perceive you.

THE ROMAN REVIEW BY MANNY ROMAN, CRES When asking for a favor, it does not need to be huge. Actually, the more dislike that exists the smaller the favor should be. Be aware that we tend to underestimate the likelihood of others helping. We focus on the expected cost of the favor while they focus on the social cost of saying “No.” No one likes to say “No.” You might consider providing a small favor first to activate the reciprocity trigger. (Google “The 7 Triggers to YES” by Russell Granger). And strive to provide a small favor after you receive one for obvious reasons. A couple of negative results need to be proposed. Someone may intentionally attempt to use the “effect” so that they can more easily influence you later. And people may dislike you more when you treat them in a negative way. The best way to deal with any situation is always to be prepared with as much knowledge as possible, both about others and yourself. Speaking of Mr. Franklin, the following is attributed to him, “Fish and visitors smell in three days.” Also, “Experience keeps a dear school: yet fools will learn in no other.” These are easier to understand and implement. • JANUARY 2022 | ICEMAGAZINE

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HSS, First Call Parts, Associated Imaging Services, Medical Imaging Solutions, Universal Medical Resources Inc, Banner Health, Mayo Clinic, and many more!

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Field Service Technician II/III

The goal of the Field Service Technician II/III position is to provide excellent customer support for HSS customers and their mission. This position completes repairs, service work, and preventive maintenance on customer’s medical equipment in accordance with established HSS policies and procedures. The Field Service Technician II works with a high degree of autonomy and provides a high level of customer service.

X-Ray Service Engineer

First Call Parts has been providing customers with quality replacement imaging parts since 2009. We pride ourselves in developing a top-notch reputation in the imaging industry as delivering the best in diagnostic imaging replacement parts. We specialize in the sale of refurbished/tested and used, Philips, Siemens, and GE in the Cath/Angio, R/F, and RAD modalities.

Field Service Engineer Nuclear Medicine

FSE job is for Wichita, KS. Hours of operation are 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday (excluding Holidays). The territory you will be responsible for will primarily be Kansas and occasionally a few neighboring states. This job includes many ben fits including health insurance, 401k investment plans, company car, PTO, bonus programs and more.

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Customer Support Engineer II/III - X-Ray

Customer Support Engineer II/III - MRI/CT

Field Service Engineer

Universal Medical Resources, a leader in Nuclear Medicine Sales, Service, and Parts has openings for experienced Field Service Engineers throughout the United States. Field Service Engineers are assigned a territory where they are responsible for maintaining nuclear medicine equipment at customer’s sites. The position requires frequent travel within the territory as well as occasional travel outside the assigned territory.

The Customer Support Engineer II/ III installs, inspects, troubleshoots, repairs, calibrates and verifies the performance of medical imaging equipment including, but not limited to:, general radiographic rooms, portables, mammography, ultrasound, bone density and supporting equipment.

The Customer Support Engineer II / III installs, inspects, troubleshoots, repairs, calibrates and verifies the performance of medical imaging equipment including, but not limited to: MRI and CT systems.

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Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Services Engineer II

HTM Imaging Technician II

HTM Healthcare Eng Technician III

We provide a robust orientation program to set you up for success. Opportunities for employee development include project and time management, temperament training, leadership academy topics, and vendor-provided technical training. Teamwork is key in this department and you will be empowered to utilize resources and collaborate to ensure consistent service delivery. Some travel may be required depending on the facilities you support. Future career growth includes opportunities in medical imaging, planning, security, integration and quality areas.

We have a vast array of opportunities ranging from Nursing, Clinical, to Finance, IT, Administrative, Research and Support Services to name a few. Across all locations, you’ll find career opportunities that support diversity, equity and inclusion. At Mayo Clinic, we invest in you with opportunities for growth and development and our benefits and compensation package are highly competitive. We invite you to be a part of our team where you’ll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, mutual respect, and most importantly, a life-changing career!

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