ISSN: 0970-938X (Print) | 0976-1683 (Electronic)
An International Journal of Medical Sciences
Yariela Herrera
Santo Tomas Hospital, Panama
Scientific Tracks Abstracts : Biomed Res
DOI: 10.4066/biomedicalresearch-C2-005
Just like in many other medical fields, Nuclear Cardiology´s practice is aiming to shift to a patient centered attention, where the laboratories will focus on value based care rather than a volume based one. In the 1990´s and the past decade a 2.5 increase in Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) volume raised awareness of the incremental in radiation burden that was not necessarily impacting health care outcomes. Since then, efforts have been made to provide a more personalized care to meet the patient’s real necessities. In order to achieve the six core needs of Health care identified by the Institute of Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology laboratories can provide better care by assuring Patient safety; this process can be achieved by first of all, identifying the candidates that will benefit from imaging, Appropriateness Criteria for Nuclear Cardiac imaging Procedures has been published to support the referring an nuclear physicians. Also, empowering the patient, providing proper education and informed consent of the nuclear cardiac imaging procedures will improve health care. Last, but not least, the nuclear physician must considered the MPI protocol that best fits the patient´s needs and not believe that “one size fits all”. Taking the patient´s condition in consideration will allow to decrease the radiation activity administered, to achieve better quality images that will support the referring clinician in the best next step in the patient´s management.
Yariela Herrera is a nuclear medicine physician. She earned her medical doctor degree at Panama ´s University Medical School. She completed her Internal Medicine Specialty at Hospital Santo Tomás. Later she performed her Nuclear Medicine fellowship at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences of El Colegio Mayor Nuestra Señora del Rosario, located in Bogota, Colombia. She conducted her training at La Fundación Cardioinfantil – Instituto de Cardiología. She is the Chief of Nuclear Medicine at Novalis Treatment Center in Panama Pacífica Hospital and a Nuclear Medicine physician in Santo Tomás Hospital.
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