The summer heat is on...not only the rising outside temperatures, but also the rising costs of our gas tanks, grocery bills and the housing market! As most Americans are being affected by at least one factor and maybe all three, where does that leave the health of most Americans? We already know we have health care issues, but with the world ...

Despite it being Mothers Day, the 33rd National Conference on Breast Cancer sponsored by the American College of Radiology (ACR) meeting in Orlando boasted impressive attendance. I'm sure you're thinking, ''But hey, it was Disney World, they brought the family!'' Regardless it was encouraging to see the meeting being attended by so many in the ...

It's May...already. And Spring is in the air. It's that time of year when we see new beginnings. Spring has sprung and the cherry blossoms are blooming; Graduations are upon us and wedding bells are starting to chime. And most notably, May brings Mothers' Day! We all know the market that Hallmark has on this special day. So why don't we take ...

It wasn't too long ago that I remember hearing how beneficial red wine--in moderation!--was for my health. Its antioxidants were found to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, and even inhibit types of tumor growth. Additional benefits were found in its ability to aid in the formation of nerve cells, a boost for neurological conditions. A smooth ...

The New York Times recent (April 10th) article, ''In Shift to Digital, More Repeat Mammograms,'' again looked at those who have made the transition from analog to digital mammography--and what they're experiencing; namely, improved image quality--seeing more than the analog image and the results of calling the patient back for additional views. ...

While proven better for women under 50 and those with very dense breasts, digital mammography appears to come with an unforeseen price tag: more repeat exams-at least initially. That's the word from an article you may have caught in the April 10th New York Times called ''In Shift to Digital, More Repeat Mammograms''. The reason centers on the ...

In my last blog I briefly discussed the growing reimbursement challenge of breast MRI, positing a catch-22 between the recommended use of breast MRI, and reimbursement for the study. This blog will suggest an alternative approach that will provide the patient with the real benefit of MRI--without the expense. The major challenge of breast MRI ...

Well it's been a few weeks since my last blog due to a hectic schedule of seminars and major PC issues. In this advanced technology world we live in, you get ''serviced'' to another country and ''George'' tries to help as you both struggle to understand each other. Well, that's another blog topic on service! What I really want to tell all who ...

In the early ‘90s Congress mandated mammography for payment by Medicare, and the requirement of coverage gradually came to apply to most health insurers. Few will remember today, but crucial testimony in this process came from Richard Bird, MD, a Carolina breast radiologist who had developed the workflow system to allow the delivery of a mammogram ...

In the last blog we discussed cancers that are missed by breast imaging, and the emotional impact on the patient of a cancer. We tend to look at the impact on the physician as ''merely'' the risk of malpractice, but the facts go much deeper. Physicians, and particularly breast physicians, are emotionally affected by a missed cancer as well. Even ...