Doctors at the Radiology Society of North America's annual convention in Chicago are now warning that the wait could get longer. They say many hospitals can't afford the equipment and radiologists to do mammograms. That means some women are forced to wait for months. Many women become discouraged at these long waits. Inadequate reimbursements and malpractice fears are also forcing mammography centers to close or scale back.
Radiologists fear it all adds up to a crisis brewing in mammography.
Another concern would be mammographers are choosing other fields because this one just doesn't pay. The radiology panel says patients need to know about these impending problems. Unless funding changes are made doctors stress the result will likely be reduced services, longer waits and potentially more cancers detected at less treatable stages. A warning for pregnant women, some drugs can interfere with the body's use of folic acid and that can increase the risk of birth defects. A new study from Boston University confirms folic acid helps prevent a variety of birth defects.