July Cover Story: Backus demonstrates imaging excellence
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Backus Hospital is one of only seven centers in the state designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.
"It is a demonstration of our determination to provide the highest quality of care," said Jeffrey Rudikoff, MD, Chief of Diagnostic Imaging at Backus Hospital. "We are one of a select few and the only one in eastern Connecticut."
The ACR recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in all of the college's voluntary, breast-imaging accreditation programs, in addition to the mandatory Mammography Accreditation Program.
The breast imaging services at Backus are fully accredited in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.
Evaluations, conducted in each breast imaging modality by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field, have determined that the Backus Diagnostic Imaging Department has achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.
The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs for focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology, as well as the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services.
Digital mammography
What it is: One way to look at digital mammography versus standard mammography is the difference between a digital camera and a film camera. The process of taking the pictures is similar, but the digital version is much more versatile. The images can be shared among health care providers easily, via computer, and can be manipulated in ways to better view suspected areas of concern. If an image is not from the right angle or unclear, it can be retaken on the spot rather than having to be done later, saving patients and clinicians time. Also, patients don't have to carry hard copies of their results to their other doctors - the images can be shared by computer.
What it's good for: Detecting breast cancer and other breast abnormalities.
Ultrasound
What it is: Non-invasive imaging of body parts using sound waves. The sound waves create an image of organs within the body, analyzed by a computer and turned into pictures.
What it's good for: Diagnostic studies of many parts of the body, including the abdomen, breasts, female reproductive system, prostate, heart and blood vessels. Commonly used during pregnancy to estimate fetal size, identifying fetal abnormalities, estimating age and determining gender.
CT scan
What it is: A non-invasive, fast medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. This advanced form of imaging combines high-tech X-ray equipment with computers to produce cross sectional images of inside the body. They provide greater clarity than standard X-rays and can be manipulated in many ways by physicians to get better view of internal bodily organs.
What it's good for: Studying the pelvis, abdomen and chest; diagnosing certain cancers; identifying vascular diseases that can lead to stroke and kidney failure; spinal problems and injuries to hands, feet and other body parts, including muscles and blood vessels.
X-ray
What it is: A non-invasive test that uses electromagnetic radiation to produce pictures of inside the body. X-rays remain the oldest and most commonly used form of imaging.
What it is good for: Used to help diagnose a wide range of medical conditions. Particularly useful in viewing bone structures and other dense tissues.
Fluoroscopy
What it is: A form of X-ray used when real-time visualization of images is needed.
What it's good for: Biopsy, which is the removal of tissue for examination; Bariumenemas and swallows, used to examine problems in the colon and gastrointestinal tract; and angiography, used to examine blood vessels.
Bone densitometry
What it is: Enhanced X-ray technology used to measure bone loss.
What it's good for: Most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, which often affects older women but is also found in men. Can also help identify other conditions that cause bone loss, and assess patients' risks for developing fractures.
James Burch, MD, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with fellowship training in both interventional radiology and neuroradiology. He went to medical school at State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn and did an internship at Salem Hospital in Salem, Mass. He did his residency at Albany Medical Center and two fellowships at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Felicia Cuomo, MD, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with fellowship training in women's imaging and body imaging. She attended medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine and did her internship at Fairfax Hospital. She did her residency and a fellowship at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Ajay Dalal, MD, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with advanced training neuroradiology. He attended medical school at B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, India and did his internship at Civil Hospital in the same city. He did his residency at the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry and New York Medical College. He did a fellowship at Louisiana State University Medical School.
William Donovan, MD, MPH, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with fellowship training in neuroradiology. He attended medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine and did his internship at Lenox Hill Hospital. He did his residency at the New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center; the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; the Hospital for Special Surgery and did a fellowship at the New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center; the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Nathaniel Dueker, MD, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with fellowship training in musculoskeletal radiology. He attended medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and did his internship at Vanderbilt Medical Center. He also did his residency and a fellowship at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Phillip Kohanski, MD, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with interest in PET scanning/nuclear medicine. He has advanced training in interventional radiology. He went to medical school at New York Medical College, and did his internship and residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Herb Lustberg, MD, section chief of interventional radiology is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with fellowship training in interventional radiology. He attended medical school at the University of Missouri-Kansas School of Medicine. He did his internship at St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospital and his residency at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center. He did a fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine.
Jeffrey Rudikoff, MD, chief radiologist, is a board-certified radiologist. He went to medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He did an internship at Long Island Jewish Hospital and his residency at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Boston City Hospital/University Hospital. He is also a fellow of the American College of Radiology.
Jenifer Siegelman, MD, MPH, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with fellowship training in body imaging. She attended medical school at State University of New York Downstate and did her internship at University of Maryland. She did her residency and a fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Gail Weingast, MD, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist who specializes in women's imaging, ultrasound and cross-sectional imaging. She is also board certified in pediatrics. She attended medical school at Boston University School of Medicine. She did her internship at University of Colorado Services and her residency in pediatrics and radiology at the University of Colorado Health Services Centers.
