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Why patients are waiting anxiously as medical imaging results take weeks to come back
CBS News • • health
Key Points:
- Medical imaging wait times in the Pittsburgh area are increasing due to a nationwide shortage of radiologists, causing anxiety for patients awaiting critical health information.
- Dr. Jerome Scherer shared his personal experience of a five-week delay in radiology results, which led to a severe Crohn's disease complication that might have been prevented with faster imaging interpretation.
- Hospital systems like Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and UPMC acknowledge the delays, citing unprecedented demand for imaging services and efforts to hire more radiologists, use advanced technology, and partner with external providers.
- AHN is also working to reduce unnecessary imaging to alleviate bottlenecks, while some emergency departments use international radiologists for overnight coverage to manage 24/7 imaging needs.
- Experts like Scherer emphasize the need for greater transparency and communication with patients about these delays and the impact on their healthcare experience.
