Radiology shifts from diagnostic testing to preparedness for COVID-19

PARCA eNews –March 16, 2020 – In the early rise of the COVID-19 crisis in Wuhan, China, hospitals and government public health authorities were relying on chest CT findings of peripheral ground-glass infiltrates and or organizing pneumonia as a surrogate for COVID-19 infection. 

Once better understanding of the virus and a viral test for the disease chest CT findings are no longer part of the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 according to a radiology expert panel writing in Radiology, the journal of the Radiology Society of North America.

The panel reviewed the preparedness of radiology departments to respond to the pandemic for the purpose of establishing policies and procedures for imaging departments designed to achieve sufficient capacity to support healthcare providers in a public health emergency.

The policies developed in conjunction with infection control experts to develop priorities in the face of emergencies such as presented by COVID-19. The objective is to provide guidance for radiology departments planning preparedness activities.

Some of the elements of a radiology preparedness plan include:

• Implementation of standard operating procedures for radiological imaging and procedures for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 exposure
• Imaging only for those COVID-19 patients where imaging will impact management
• Performance of imaging at locations with less foot traffic and with fewer critically ill patients. When possible, portable imaging is performed
• Standardize hospital protocols for decontaminating imaging rooms, especially CT scanners, after caring for a COVID-19 patient
• Improving capability for remote interpretations (home, other sites) in the case of staff isolation or patient surge.

In addition, the panel surveyed healthcare systems about their planning and provided an extensive lists of priorities and actions taken amid the crisis including staff protection and maintenance of radiology equipment and operations including provisions for working from home.

The full article is available on the Radiology journal site.