| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | COVID-19’s Impact on Disability Access to Medical Imaging |
| Editors | Gabriel Bennett, Emma Goodall |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Pages | 1-15 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783031408588 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Apr 2025 |
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, a grave pandemic with emerging and ongoing pathological findings, has been coined as a new disability due to its long-term effects. Medical imaging was appraised for its technologically innovative intervention in the early detection and triaging of patients. An equitable, meaningful, and timely medical imaging outcome is interdependent on the justification, quality, and completeness of the referral request order during the clinical medical encounter. This is subject to the availability of various types of imaging examinations, associated imaging modalities, and a diverse team of medical and non-medical members.
Central and core throughout the imaging encounter are the person, their situational context, and the timing of the episodic medical imaging encounter. A brief, person-centered, temporary episodic medical imaging encounter is complex in producing the desired imaging outcomes with precision. This involves optimal interpretation based on clinical justification and the question to be answered the ability and capabilities of technology and networks, and the functioning, availability, competency, decisions, experiences, and skills of healthcare practitioners, as well as the systemic processes and procedures of the healthcare system and beyond.
In other words, ensuring a value-added, inclusive, quality-assured, equitable, and timely medical imaging outcome is not a walk in the park. It entails carefully aligned, coordinated, collaborative, and communicated interactional decision-making processes and procedures. To date, several COVID-19 medical imaging-related studies are emerging from a radiological perspective, focusing on pathological aspects with impairment and disability implications and interventions. On the other hand, there is a sudden surge of studies from radiography practitioners on inclusive care considerations for people with or without disabilities in managing quality medical imaging encounters. The collective approach remains a gap, hence the need for an inclusive, holistic, techno-bio-psycho-social imaging encounter.
Central and core throughout the imaging encounter are the person, their situational context, and the timing of the episodic medical imaging encounter. A brief, person-centered, temporary episodic medical imaging encounter is complex in producing the desired imaging outcomes with precision. This involves optimal interpretation based on clinical justification and the question to be answered the ability and capabilities of technology and networks, and the functioning, availability, competency, decisions, experiences, and skills of healthcare practitioners, as well as the systemic processes and procedures of the healthcare system and beyond.
In other words, ensuring a value-added, inclusive, quality-assured, equitable, and timely medical imaging outcome is not a walk in the park. It entails carefully aligned, coordinated, collaborative, and communicated interactional decision-making processes and procedures. To date, several COVID-19 medical imaging-related studies are emerging from a radiological perspective, focusing on pathological aspects with impairment and disability implications and interventions. On the other hand, there is a sudden surge of studies from radiography practitioners on inclusive care considerations for people with or without disabilities in managing quality medical imaging encounters. The collective approach remains a gap, hence the need for an inclusive, holistic, techno-bio-psycho-social imaging encounter.