Friday, July 25, 2008

The Today Show Mentions Self-Referral

A report featuring NBC Medical Reporter Dr. Nancy Snyderman was aired yesterday on the Today Show, which discussed mainly the amount of radiation one would receive from various tests. Self-referral was mentioned quite briefly in that patients were urged to ask their ordering doc if he or she has a financial interest in the scanning facililty. See the video HERE.

While the ACR has done much to bring imaging self-referral to light, they sometimes take too much credit. In a piece about the Today Show report, Dr. Thrall of the ACR said: "ACR media and public relations efforts regarding quality imaging and the effect of financial incentives on imaging quality and cost are clearly having an effect."ACR media and public relations efforts regarding quality imaging and the effect of financial incentives on imaging quality and cost are clearly having an effect." I'm sorry, but the only mention of the ACR in the piece concerns accreditation. Listen for yourself.

But, I guess any publicity on this topic is good publicity. Even if some wish to take credit where credit is not due.

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