FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jeff Burns
Public Relations
3047 Edinger Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
Phone 800-717-AVMI(2864)
www.avmi.net

AVMI adds a full time in-house board certified veterinary radiologist

Tustin, CA -- August 1, 2005 -- Previously limited to university based veterinary teaching hospitals, the addition of a full time, in-house veterinary radiologist ensures that patients imaged at AVMI will receive the optimal imaging procedure the first time. Facilities performing complicated diagnostic imaging procedures like MRI and CT without an in-house radiologist occasionally have to repeat studies on patients because the images are not interpreted until after the patient has been recovered from anesthesia and sent home. The absence of appropriate on-site oversight of the diagnostic imaging procedure can result in incomplete evaluation of the patient and missed diagnoses. The addition of a full time, in-house veterinary radiologist ensures that AVMI will provide the optimal diagnostic imaging procedure for each individual patient. “The presence of a full time in-house veterinary radiologist ensures we will make the right choices during the process of performing the diagnostic imaging procedure” says AVMI owner Dr. Michael Broome “Ultimately this means the best result for the patient and the client.” The addition of an in-house radiologist also improves turn around time for written reports. “Most veterinary imaging facilities send their images to an outside source to be read, potentially delaying availability of the results for days” says Broome. The presence of an in-house radiologist means that AVMI can routinely deliver final written reports that are faxed to the referring veterinarian by the end of the same business day.

The full time availability of an in-house veterinary radiologist allows AVMI to offer radiograph interpretations as a new service. Most veterinarians in private practice interpret the radiographs taken in their practices themselves. While all veterinarians receive basic training for radiograph evaluation during their 4 years of veterinary school, veterinary radiologists undergo a minimum of 3 years of additional intensive training in the art of radiographic image interpretation. “The biggest limitation with self evaluation of radiographic performance is that errors are totally invisible... until pointed out by someone else” says veterinary radiologist, Dr. Brett Fundak. Studies have shown that errors of omission are as frequent as errors of misinterpretation, therefore errors in interpretation are as likely when x-rays are initially considered normal as when they are considered abnormal. Even when the radiologist agrees with the original interpretation, they will often find other abnormalities that can have an impact on prognosis or medical management of the patient. “The value of radiograph interpretation by a trained veterinary radiologist is currently under appreciated by the majority of veterinary practitioners” says Broome, “We hope to increase the value of the radiographs taken by our local veterinary practitioners by optimizing their interpretation.”

For information : http:/www.avmi.net
Phone: 800-717-AVMI(2864)