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FRS Membership
Dues |
Please contact the American College of Radiology Membership Services at (800) 347-7748 to pay your 2024 Florida Radiological Society membership dues. |
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| Meet Your 2023 - 2024 FRS Executive Committee |
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President
Laura Vallow, MD |
President Elect
Juan Batlle, MD |
Treasurer
Andrew Bowman, MD, PhD |
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Secretary
Edem Chen, MD |
Past President
Chintan Desai, MD, FACR |
Radiation Oncology, Chair
Jennifer Peterson, MD |
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Letter from the Editor |
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Unveiling the Limitations of AI in Radiology and Radiation Oncology
Introduction:
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in various industries, and medicine is no exception. In the fields of radiology and radiation oncology, AI has shown promise in enhancing diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and overall patient care. |
However, it is crucial for practicing radiologists and radiation oncologists to recognize the inherent limitations of AI technology to effectively integrate it into their clinical workflows.
The Potential of AI in Radiology:
AI applications in radiology have gained momentum, primarily in image interpretation and diagnosis. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and deep learning algorithms have demonstrated impressive capabilities in identifying abnormalities, aiding in early disease detection, and streamlining the diagnostic process. While AI holds significant potential for increasing efficiency and reducing workload for radiologists, it is essential to understand the current limitations.
Lack of Contextual Understanding:
One notable limitation of AI in radiology is its struggle to grasp the broader clinical context. AI algorithms may excel at identifying anomalies in images, but they often lack the ability to consider patient history, symptoms, or other relevant clinical information. Radiologists bring a wealth of experience and medical knowledge to the interpretation process, considering the patient's overall health and history, which AI currently cannot fully replicate.
Limited Generalization:
AI models are often trained on specific datasets, and their performance may vary when presented with cases outside of their training domain. Radiologists encounter a diverse range of patient conditions, and the ability of AI to generalize across different populations, imaging techniques, and equipment remains a challenge. Radiologists must be cautious about relying solely on AI for diagnosis, especially in complex or rare cases.
The Role of AI in Radiation Oncology:
In radiation oncology, AI has shown promise in treatment planning, dose optimization, and image-guided radiation therapy. However, there are notable limitations that practitioners should be aware of to ensure the safe and effective integration of AI into their clinical practices.
Complex Treatment Planning:
While AI can assist in automating certain aspects of treatment planning, creating an optimal radiation therapy plan is a complex task that involves considering various factors such as tumor characteristics, surrounding healthy tissues, and patient-specific parameters. AI may aid in parts of this process, but the final decision often requires the expertise and nuanced judgment of a radiation oncologist.
Limited Adaptability:
AI models in radiation oncology are often trained on historical data, which may not fully represent the evolving landscape of treatment techniques and technologies. As new modalities and approaches emerge, AI systems may struggle to adapt quickly, potentially leading to suboptimal treatment plans. Radiation oncologists should view AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for their clinical expertise.
Conclusion:
While AI presents exciting opportunities in radiology and radiation oncology, it is crucial for practicing radiologists and radiation oncologists to be aware of its limitations. AI cannot replace the depth of clinical knowledge and experience that human practitioners bring to the table. Instead, the successful integration of AI into medical practice requires a collaborative approach, where AI is viewed as a valuable adjunct to human expertise. As the field continues to advance, understanding the capabilities and constraints of AI will be essential for ensuring the delivery of high-quality and personalized patient care.
ChatGPT series#7
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Edem Chen, MD
Secretary, FRS |
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FRS President's Message |
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Dear Members,
As we move into Spring, we find an opportunity for renewed energy and focus. It is a perfect time to celebrate our individual and societal achievements. As we look ahead to the rest of the year and begin preparation for the Annual ACR Meeting, let’s remain committed to our shared vision, unity in diversity and staying connected. Your input and collaboration are invaluable.
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Wishing you a joyful spring season!
Warm Regards, |
Laura Vallow, MD
President, Florida Radiological Society |
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FRBMA President's Message |
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With the latest cyber-attack on Change Healthcare, we once again have our senses heightened with thoughts of “what if that happened to us?” and “are we protected to the best of our ability”.
Wednesday, February 21st, Change Healthcare issued communications to their clients that a cyber security issue had been identified and they were taking steps to isolate and remedy. As an act of caution, they disconnected connectivity to systems they felt were at risk. |
Submitted claims through Change Health remain unprocessed along with any associated remittance advice. This has created a disruption to many physicians and ancillary service providers who have been impacted with loss of revenue for the past 12 days. Change Healthcare has now confirmed that their cybercrime threat actor is representing itself as ALPHV/Blackcat and this security breach has now been dubbed as the "most serious" cyber incident against any U.S. health organization by American Hospital Association President and CEO Rick Pollack.
As radiology business leaders, we are tasked with staying current on cybersecurity trends, from protective, responsive, and remedial measures for our own organizations. However, we are becoming increasingly threatened by the impact a cyber-attack on our affiliated organizations and hospitals may have on our businesses. I recently attended a client meeting where different case experiences and lessons learned were reviewed and advice for future actions and considerations were given.
Along with network monitoring, activity monitoring and multi-factor authentication, etc., a few new action items were introduced:
Professional Service Agreements:
Do your current PSAs provide for the responsibilities of either party during a breach? One case study presented the ongoing costs experienced when their hospital (not their group) had a ransomware attack. During the disruption, the group was required to read on site at the scanners 24/7 for 11 days. For the group itself, no claims were able to be submitted and many radiologists had to cancel vacations and convert remote shifts to onsite. Once connection was restored, thousands of studies had to be formally interpreted again for final reads, further burdening an already exhausted group. Like most of us, our current PSAs were written prior to the need for language surrounding security breaches and what, if any remuneration could be expected should one occur. Discussions need to be held to document expected communications and actions during and post breach.
Cyber Insurance:
Do you have a cyber security policy, and does it include coverage for the impact of an affiliated group’s cyber-attack? Check to see if you have business interruption coverage and whether it covers interruption due to internal and external breaches. Make sure you understand the coverages you have and may need to add as you come up for your policy renewals.
Phishing Campaigns and Ongoing Training:
Most companies/groups are utilizing mock phishing campaigns to teach employees and physicians how to recognize a potential threat via email. An added step is now being implemented to launch an educational component should a user fall victim to a mock phishing email. In addition, we heard from a group that has instituted mock cyber-attack drills that reinforce communication standards, role delineation, and public relations policies along with identifying vulnerabilities within every level of the organization.
Post Attack Blowback:
Depending on the severity of the breach there are legal and regulatory reports that need to be submitted. If patient information has been compromised, notification must occur, and groups will need to define a communication command center to address concerns and questions. A new line of litigation for class action suits has evolved in this era of healthcare cyber-attacks. It is imperative to document all the policies and procedures along with a thorough accounting of all cyber security measures your organization has implemented to mitigate the risk of a post attack litigation.
We must continuously stay on top of the changes and advances in cyber threats to healthcare. Networking and learning from your peers and partnering with your hospitals is a key element to navigating through the ever-evolving big business of Healthcare Cyber Attacks. |
Lisa Adams, CEO, MBA
President, FRBMA |
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Legislative Update |
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The Legislative Session is coming closer to the end with March 8th being sine die.
The budget is still being negotiated and in order for them to get it out on time, the budget needs to be on the member’s desk Tuesday March 5th. Many are waiting on the Governor to act on the social media bill this Friday as it is tied to how the budget and session will end.
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I am still waiting on how many bills will cross or not cross the finish line. So until then, nothing more to report.
Best, |
Alison Dudley, FRS Lobbyist
AlisonDudley@dudleyandassociates.com |
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2024 Annual Meeting of the
FRS & FRBMA |
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| Please join the Florida Radiological Society and the Florida Radiology Business Management Association for the 2024 Annual Meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, July 19-21, 2024. The meeting will focus on “Forging Ahead into the Brave New World of Radiology” and will feature lectures by faculty who are leaders in the practice of radiology. We look forward to seeing you in July. |
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Martin Northup Resident Leadership Award |
H. Martin Northup Resident Leadership Award - A scholarship opportunity for Florida Diagnostic Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Physicist 2nd year Residents or graduate students.
Martin Northup was very committed to radiology resident education and advancement. To eternally honor and remember him, the board of the FRS Foundation has established a special award bearing his name, the “H Martin Northup Resident Leadership Award.” During the FRS annual meeting, a $1,000 award will be given to a 2nd year Florida radiology resident who will be a 3rd year at the time of the fellowship. During the FRS Annual Meeting, the resident will have an officer mentor and will attend all functions including the board meeting. The goal is to develop future leaders in Radiology and develop promising residents to assume greater roles in the society, such as President of the Resident and Fellow’s Section. The award recipient will be chosen for the 2024 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, July 19-21, 2024 by the Scholarships and Grants committee based on a competitive application process.
Please check with your Program Director to be considered for this opportunity and to complete the application. Return your completed application to lroger@edusymp.com before end of business on May 14, 2024 in order to be considered for this award.
Thank you, |
| Jeffrey Stone, M.D., FACR |
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FACR Application |
Although there are multiple pathways to ACR Fellowship, by providing opportunities for leadership and involvement, chapters give members an opportunity for recognition as an ACR Fellow. This designation is attained by only an estimated 10 percent of radiologists that belong to the ACR and represents a significant career accomplishment. Chapters also serve as a vital link for recommendation of candidates for ACR Fellowship to the ACR Committee on Fellowship.
If you think you meet these criteria and wish to apply to become an ACR fellow with Florida chapter nomination please contact the FRS at lroger@edusymp.com.
Years in training do not count as member years.
If you are applying for Fellowship, the Chapter Deadline is May 31st. |
Joseph G. Cernigliaro, MD, FACR
Alan H. Porter, MD, FACR
Chairs, Fellowship Committee |
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Attend a sample of the Learning to Lead Bootcamp
at the 2024 FRS Chapter Meeting. Check out the spring RLI Learning to
Lead Bootcamp at www.acr.org/LearningToLead for additional training
and tools to address early leadership challenges. |
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Job Posting Opportunities |
Florida Radiological Society is pleased to introduce the opportunity for interested parties to advertise for potential jobs in our monthly FRS Ebrief bulletin.
Advertisement pricing is as follows:
Ebrief Job Posting pricing:
- 3 months ($100 monthly)
- 6 months ($90 monthly)
- 12 months ($80 monthly)
Please contact Lorraine Roger, our Society Administrator for further information on how to advertise in our monthly publication.
Phone: (813) 806-1070
Fax: (813) 806-1071
Email: lroger@flrad.org
We feel that this will provide a valuable service to both our members and our Florida community of Radiology. |
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Become A PAC Member Today |
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Attention FRBMA Members! Please support the cause. We encourage you to be PAC members and supporters; you do not have to belong to the FRS. Donations can be made online through our PAC website www.FLRADPAC.org. Thank you for your donation.
It is critical that we support both our Florida PAC and RADPAC in order to bolster our voice in Tallahassee and Washington, respectively. Please join FRS lobbyist Alison Dudley in her special appeal for all Florida radiologists to become Florida PAC members. If you would like to help FRS defend radiology against untoward legislation and introduce bills that have a positive impact on our practices, we need your financial support to re-elect our friends in the state House and Senate. The FRS can also show you simplified ways on how to sign up your radiology group. Contact Lorraine Roger or contact Alison Dudley at for more information. |
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Telephone (813) 806-1070
Fax (813) 806-1071
5620 W. Sligh Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33634 |
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| The E-Brief is an exclusive member benefit of Florida Radiological Society, delivering monthly member, chapter and industry news. Please do not reply to this automatic e-mail. For comments or questions about the E-Brief, please contact lroger@flrad.org. |
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