Contrast Recycling and Energy Saving Programs Implemented in Radiology
Sustainability Update | Tarek Hijaz, MD
The Department of Radiology’s recently created Sustainability Task Force is already making steady progress in its efforts to address environmental issues. Recent areas of focus include initiation of a fully-operational iodinated contrast recycling program, plans to reduce MRI energy consumption, and attention to reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to meetings and interviews. Dr. Tarek Hijaz, head of the task force, has reported that Feinberg CT has collaborated with GE Healthcare to participate in their iodine recycling program. This program is expanding throughout Europe and the Americas according to GE, and it is fully operational at Northwestern Medicine. Iodine is a nonrenewable mineral extracted from soil at great cost both operationally as well as environmentally. It is commonly used as contrast for both CT and X-ray imaging. As global demand for contrast media increases, statistics from the World Iodine Association show that only 18% of the current global demand is reused. The process of recycling is simple. Hospitals are provided with 3- liter containers into which unused or uncontaminated iodinated contrast media can be deposited via the injector syringe or by the bottle. Filled containers are returned to GE’s processing facility in Norway where iodine is extracted and recycled into new contrast media. Since the implementation of these practices in 2006, GE reports, “On average, 5% of the contrast customers have purchased goes unused.” Contrast recycling also prompts hospitals and radiology staff to track contrast usage and waste. Having this program up and running is a fantastic achievement. Dr. Hijaz has acknowledged the crucial contributions of Ms. Sarah Fopma and Mr. Ray Diano of CT, as well as of Dr. Amir Borhani, Director of CT, in collaborating with GE to get this project off the ground in rapid fashion.
Partnering with Siemens, Northwestern Radiology is also at work on more sustainable operation of MRI scanners. Faculty leading this project include Dr. Hijaz, as well as Dr. Markl, Vice Chair of Research, and Dr. Korutz, Vice Chair of Informatics. Lower energy consumption is the goal, but maintaining operations and high image quality are challenges. New workflows and low-energy pulse sequences have been developed to address energy efficiency. These methods help to assess MRI energy consumption during data acquisition in real- time or near real-time. New methodologies for software-derived estimation of power consumption during routine operation of the MRI system are the expected outcome of these efforts. To address power consumption, the task force has also moved forward with plans to install a smart power meter on CTI scanners. Dr. Hijaz notes, “Routine clinical operation of MRI results in substantial energy consumption associated with high costs and contributions to climate change.” The environmental impact of travel for radiology meetings and conferences is another area being explored. Dr. Hijaz and his fellow co-members of the Association of University Radiologists (AUR) Sustainability Committee have begun looking into the potential for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions related to radiology conferences and meetings. As expected, initial investigations point to the fact that in-person conference attendance generates significantly higher greenhouse gas emissions than virtual attendance. The majority of these emissions are related to air travel, according to sustainable event management agency MeetGreen, with whom members of the AUR’s committee met recently. In light of this information regarding the impact of air travel, the Department of Radiology is looking into maintaining and possibly increasing its use of virtual interviews where possible.
Match Day 2023
Resident Program | Holly Harper, Education Manager
The National Resident Matching Program's main residency match for radiology residents was held on Friday, March 17th. There was a high level of competition in Radiology this year. In the area of Integrated Interventional Radiology, we were able to match two candidates, and in the area of Diagnostic Radiology, we were able to match ten candidates. This year, a record-breaking number of applications was received amounting to 25% more. Our department also saw a 50% increase in the number of women who matched in both Interventional and Diagnostic tracks. It is expected the incoming cohort will begin their Northwestern residency programs in July 2024.
Our sincere thanks go out to all the faculty and staff who contributed to the success of our recruitment campaign. We are confident that these new residents will have a positive impact on our training program and will benefit from the outstanding educational opportunities offered here. We look forward to welcoming them on board and working with them in the upcoming year.
The Read | Volume 6 | Page 12
Department of Radiology
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