This is a time of year when cancer awareness receives a lot of attention, as do the stories of patients and caretakers who fight the disease. Yet, there are many other people playing a role in the battle against cancer, including hardworking medical imaging engineers.
Anyone who is at risk for cancer deserves to know where they stand as soon as possible, and everyone who strives to protect lives of those patients deserves recognition for what they do.
It’s estimated that more than 1.7 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year alone. More than 600,000 patients could die from the disease, according to research from the National Cancer Institute. What many people don’t realize, though, is that healthcare professionals have an army of allies in the fight against cancer, including the engineers and imaging specialists who keep diagnostic devices running and in prime condition.
Detection depends on technology, but that technology depends on people like you. We’d like to take a moment to shine the spotlight on your efforts and how they contribute to the diagnosis, care, and treatment of cancer patients. By maintaining and servicing medical imaging devices, imaging engineers support early detection, which ultimately saves lives. For the month of October, DirectMed Imaging would like to expand the dialog and recognize the full impact of your contributions to these life-saving efforts.
Unsung Heroes | What’s Missing from Cancer Awareness Coverage
National programs that raise awareness about the early signs and varied treatment options for cancer have led to more people requesting screenings before it’s too late. Coordinated campaigns and events during specific months, such as Breast Cancer Awareness in October, Lung Cancer Awareness in November and overall Cancer Prevention in February bring the public’s attention to these efforts.
You may have noticed, however, that there’s one component missing in the media coverage far too often. Among the inspiring stories about survivors, their families, and their healthcare providers, what you probably haven’t seen are the quiet heroes behind the scenes – the nurses, support staff, and biomedical engineers who make sure imaging devices are fully functional when they are needed. You probably do not receive thanks when everything operates flawlessly, but you’re likely the first one on call when something goes wrong.
Early Detection with Medical Imaging Saves Lives
Technology has a vast potential to save lives, but timing matters. The Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance reported that the increased use of medical imaging has been directly correlated to longer life expectancies in the U.S. It does that by detecting anomalies sooner than a person could. Their research concluded that, if detected early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer rises to 99 percent.
All the data arising out of cancer research makes one point crystal clear: Early detection unlocks better outcomes. The World Health Organization advised, “Recognizing possible warning signs of cancer and taking prompt action leads to early diagnosis. Increased awareness of possible warning signs of cancer, among physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers as well as among the general public, can have a great impact on the disease.”
That takes more than just wisdom, though. It takes the most intelligent application of the latest imaging devices for early detection.
The American College of Radiology found that properly-calibrated devices for mammography helped lower breast cancer mortality in the U.S. by 40 percent over the past two decades. Saving lives depends on getting better data back to doctors sooner; the earlier medical professionals can halt the progress of a cancerous vector, the more options there are to treat it with less invasive procedures.
The importance of making sure all medical imaging devices are operating at peak performance – and fixing them with tight turnarounds when they go down – cannot be overstated. When time is of the essence, the prevention or minimization of device downtime translates into faster, better results for those in need of answers from a CT scan, MRI, or mammography device.
Forgotten Experts Behind the Scenes
All year long, DirectMed Imaging supports the engineers who service Siemens equipment, helping you do your job better and faster, which in turn ensures patients are served in a timely and effective manner.
DirectMed Imaging understands the vital work you do, and that’s why we do everything we can to back you up through on-the-spot troubleshooting, hands-on training, and high-quality yet affordable replacement parts with defect on arrival (DOA) rates much lower than those from the OEM.
Think of DirectMed Imaging as your secret weapon in keeping critical medical devices in prime condition. Some engineers have described us the Q to their James Bond. Others refer to us as the Siemens whisperers. We have the answers you need at the moment of truth.
Whenever you need trustworthy replacement parts, free support even for those who aren’t current customers, and in-depth, hands-on training on Siemens equipment, DirectMed Imaging is here. We want to remind people that not all heroes have capes, and not all lifesavers wear scrubs. In the ongoing fight against cancer, we’re all in this together.
