Tackling initial anxiety at work: <\/strong>Due to the initial fear of working in Covid-affected areas, radiographers\u00a0and consultants had\u00a0Zoom meetings and weekly briefings on policy changes and Covid-19 care. The supply of adequate PPE and sanitisation\/ disinfection practice in all sections of radiology was a positive for the teams.\u00a0We segregated Covid from non-Covid care delivery pathways and introduced norms of practising safe and smart imaging. We reduced the imaging waiting, overcrowding, and scan cycles to minimise exposure to all stakeholders.<\/p>\n Leveraging digital radiology in Covid care units:\u00a0<\/strong>We moved slowly to capitalise on X-ray radiology to assist the diagnosis and surveil Covid pneumonia. Digital mobile X-ray machines were procured on lease and moved into isolation wards and critical care units as the point of care support. The critical care workforce was trained to take radiographs in case of emergency. USG\/Doppler protocols for\u00a0fast\u00a0USG for abdomen, thorax, and fluid challenge was encouraged.<\/p>\n Healthcare IT transformation<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/strong>IT was\u00a0a great enabler\u00a0during the pandemic. X-ray transfer was enabled on digital devices and mobile devices. Hospital radiology\u00a0became\u00a0paperless. The wi-fi enabled seamless and rapid image data transfers reduced people and asset movement in the isolation areas.<\/p>\n Adoption of AI:\u00a0<\/strong>Phone calls from EMO were non-stop and 24X7.\u00a0Radiology was weaponised to battle the virus with machine learning\u00a0and\u00a0artificial intelligence. We introduced voice recognition\u00a0bots for reporting via desktop as well as mobile devices. In the early days, we\u00a0were trying to study the X-rays of lungs, comprehensive reports, and print correct findings to solve the treating dilemmas. As weeks flew by, we matured from X-ray to HRCT scans. We created reporting standards, smart reporting, adopted global guidelines, and consensus statements were structured with colleagues in the field.<\/p>\n HRCT <\/strong>became the mainstay for early diagnosis and prognosis in Covid-19 pneumonia. \u00a0We partnered with AI companies to use X-ray as well as HRCT triage for reducing the reporting TAT to assist in fast-tracking admissions as well as home care. Our secondline healthworkers\u00a0were fast-tracked into respiratory and ENT radiology like Netflix\u00a0and\u00a0 Amazon Prime hit India in 2020. Our uncertainty has now evolved into confidence, well-armed with the best tools to fight this war.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.isb.edu\/healthcare\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/2\/files\/sites\/2\/2021\/08\/2-av.jpg\")
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