Studying Environmental Impacts on Radiology
Written by JDMI (Joint Department of Medical Imaging)
A partnership between teams in the Joint Department of Medical Imaging (JDMI) and Emergency Medicine has resulted in a $100,000 (USD) grant to investigate how environmental factors affect the demand for medical imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans.
Dr. Kate Hanneman and a multi-disciplinary research team – including Dr. Heidi Schmidt, Dr. Michael Patlas, Dr. Ania Kielar, and Ms. Hayley Panet from the Joint Department of Medical Imaging (JDMI), Dr. Joseph Choi from Emergency Medicine, and multiple external collaborators – will lead this multi-center project, called “Sustainability, Environmental Exposures, and Impact on Medical Imaging Utilization in Radiology.”
This grant was awarded by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Research and Education Foundation.
With climate change impacting air quality and temperatures soaring, hospitals are seeing a rise in patients with respiratory and cardiovascular issues visiting emergency rooms. Yet, there remains a critical gap in understanding the direct impact of these environmental changes on healthcare utilization, particularly in radiology.
Dr. Hanneman and the team want to change that. They're investigating whether air pollution and temperature affect how many imaging tests are performed in emergency departments. They also plan to investigate how patient demographics, including age and sex, influence this relationship.
Their research isn't just about numbers—it's about ensuring that hospitals are ready to handle imaging needs during environmental crises and that everyone can get the care they need.
This partnership exemplifies UHN's commitment to innovative research that bridges environmental science and healthcare practices, potentially reshaping future strategies for healthcare preparedness in the face of environmental challenges.