RadTranslate: An Artificial Intelligence–Powered Intervention for Urgent Imaging to Enhance Care Equity for Patients With Limited English Proficiency During the COVID-19 Pandemic

PurposeDisproportionally high rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been noted among communities with limited English proficiency, resulting in an unmet need for improved multilingual care and interpreter services. To enhance multilingual care, the authors created a freely available web application, RadTranslate, that provides multilingual radiology examination instructions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of this intervention in radiology.MethodsThe device-agnostic web application leverages artificial intelligence text-to-speech technology to provide standardized, human-like spoken examination instructions in the patient’s preferred language. Standardized phrases were collected from a consensus group consisting of technologists, radiologists, and ancillary staff members. RadTranslate was piloted in Spanish for chest radiography performed at a COVID-19 triage outpatient center that served a predominantly Spanish-speaking Latino community. Implementation included a tablet displaying the application in the chest radiography room. Imaging appointment duration was measured and compared between pre- and postimplementation groups.ResultsIn the 63-day test period after launch, there were 1,267 application uses, with technologists voluntarily switching exclusively to RadTranslate for Spanish-speaking patients. The most used phrases were a general explanation of the examination (30% of total), followed by instructions to disrobe and remove any jewelry (12%). There was no significant difference in imaging appointment duration (11 ± 7 and 12 ± 3 min for standard of care versus RadTranslate, respectively), but variability was significantly lower when RadTranslate was used (P = .003).ConclusionsArtificial intelligence–aided multilingual audio instructions were successfully integrated into imaging workflows, reducing strain on medical interpreters and variance in throughput and resulting in more reliable average examination length.     

Is IR an Essential Hospital Service? Analysis of Trauma Procedures at a Level 1 Centre During the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology -     

SARS-CoV-2 reinfection: “New baseline” imaging concept in the era of COVID-19

Recent reports have suggested COVID-19 relapse or reinfection may lead to readmission, which may cause a diagnostic challenge between recently infected patients and reinfections. Compounding this problem is the post-viral lung sequela that may be expected after COVID-19 pneumonia, similar to both SARS and MERS. Although chest imaging may play a role in the diagnosis of primary SARS-CoV-2 infection, reinfection or relapse of COVID-19 will have similar imaging findings. A “new-baseline” imaging can be obtained from COVID-19 patients at the time of hospital discharge or clinical recovery. This new reference can not only determine if readmissions are from relapse or reinfection of COVID-19, resolving COVID-19 or potentially a different viral infection (influenza), but also for long term sequela of COVID-19 lung infection. Strategic use of imaging before discharge may be helpful in the subset of the population at the highest risk of a secondary viral infection such as influenza. Determining the residual abnormalities in post-discharge imaging can guide us in the long-term management of patients for many years to come.     

Brief communication: A departmental “command center” to facilitate staff safety and patient care during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic

During the initial peak of the COVID-19 crisis, for the approximately 6 weeks beginning on April 8, 2020 and continuing through mid-May 2020, our academic radiology department shifted all nonprocedural operations to a “Command Center” model. This intervention was designed to maximize faculty and resident safety while continuing to provide prompt radiology care to our patients and support to front-line clinicians. During this time most of our radiology faculty and residents worked remotely. The five on-site residents were stationed together in a single large reading room where they worked as generalists, supervised by remote faculty. This room became the hub of all clinical communications. This brief report describes this experience, reviewing what was done and what was learned.     

Perceptions on activity behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic “second wave” among US adults: results of a short online survey

Sport Sciences for Health - COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of people of all nations. This study examined physical activity (PA) behavior, barriers and facilitators to PA during the...     

Medical genetics and the law's response: “In the rear and limping a little”

Reproductive Genetics And The Law, by Elias, S. & Annas, G. (Year Book Medical Publishers, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1987), 323 pages, $41.50.

Medical Genetics: A Legal Frontier, by Andrews, L. (American Bar Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, 1987), 284 pages, $25.00.