White Paper Report of the RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries: Identifying Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies for Imaging Services in the Developing World

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Radiology Vol. 7; no. 7; pp. 495 - 500
• Main Authors: Mollura, Daniel J., MD, Azene, Ezana M., MD, PhD, Starikovsky, Anna, Thelwell, Aduke, Iosifescu, Sarah, Kimble, Cary, Polin, Ann, MSRS, RDMS, RDCS, RVT, Garra, Brian S., MD, DeStigter, Kristen K., MD, Short, Brad, MLA, Johnson, Benjamin, Welch, Christian, Walker, Ivy, White, David M., PhD, Javadi, Mehrbod S., MD, Lungren, Matthew P., MD, Zaheer, Atif, MD, Goldberg, Barry B., MD, Lewin, Jonathan S., MD
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-07-2010
• Subjects: Developing Countries; Diagnostic Imaging; economic development; health care disparity; health care policy; Humans; information technology; International Cooperation; international global imaging; limited-resource regions; microcredit; microfinance; Models, Theoretical; public health; Radiology; Radiology - economics; Radiology - education; Radiology - standards; radiology readiness; residency education; microfinance; information technology; microcredit; economic development; health care policy; health care disparity; international global imaging; developing countries; Radiology; residency education; limited-resource regions; public health; radiology readiness
• ISSN: 1546-1440; 1558-349X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2010.01.018

The RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries was an assembly of individuals and organizations interested in improving access to medical imaging services in developing countries where the availability of radiology has been inadequate for both patient care and public health programs. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss data, experiences, and models pertaining to radiology in the developing world and to evaluate potential opportunities for future collaboration. Conference participants included radiologists, technologists, faculty members of academic medical institutions, and leadership of nongovernmental organizations involved in international health care and social entrepreneurship. Four main themes from the conference are presented in this white paper as important factors for the implementation and optimization of radiology in the developing world: (1) ensuring the economic sustainability of radiologic services through financial and administrative training support of health care personnel; (2) designing, testing, and deploying clinical strategies adapted for regions with limited resources; (3) structuring and improving the role of American radiology residents interested in global health service projects; and (4) implementing information technology models to support digital imaging in the developing world.