From the June 2015 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
To remain clinically relevant, nuclear medicine needs to focus on becoming disease specific rather than device specific. Helping referring physicians within the hospital by defining a “best practices” path between disease and device/application will boost the importance of nuclear medicine.
The late Dr. Henry Wagner at Johns Hopkins did this very well. Referring physicians knew that nuclear medicine had solutions. They’d call Dr. Wagner, describe the problem and ask, “What can you do to help with the management of this patient?” Dr. Wagner made certain everyone understood nuclear medicine was an important solution.
An emerging area, targeted radionuclide therapy, sometimes called peptide receptor radionuclide therapy or hormone-delivered radiotherapy, is one in which nuclear medicine should play a major role. There is a major intersection with radiation therapy, just as there was with nuclear medicine and nuclear cardiology back in the 1980s. If nuclear medicine employs a lead-from-behind strategy this emerging application could go completely to radiation therapy, with no involvement from nuclear medicine.
Today, solving the cost and quality puzzle under the ACA is critical. The SNMMI and its members have to demonstrate a willingness and reason for being at the table. Altering the 4-decade old lead-from-behind strategy and employing a trailblazer strategy will be critical to growing the importance and marketplace acceptance of nuclear medicine.
About the Author: Wayne Webster is the founder of Proactics Consulting. Providing business development support services for technology-based businesses, the firm has helped many companies and institutions realize their goals. Learn more about Proactics Consulting at www.Proactics.net.
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PATTI MCLEAN
There are several companies leading the way
June 25, 2015 03:44
SHINE Medical Technologies will have its construction permit to build a Mo-99 facility in Janesville WI, hopefully by the end of the year. NorthStar Radioisotopes is in the process of FDA approval (at least 3 years behind SHINE). Both Midwest companies. There are many other companies about 5 years behind SHINE that are attempting to fill the void that NRU will produce.
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