Medicare recognition of RAs is vital

Medicare recognition of radiologist assistants is key to improved quality in patient care and urgently needed efficiencies in medical imaging.

Radiologist assistants, called RAs, are advanced-practice radiology technologists — the professionals who perform X-rays, CT and MRI scans. RAs work under the supervision of a radiologist and are educated and certified to perform procedures typically performed by radiologists.

As the president of the Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists, I see a critical need for Medicare to recognize radiologist assistants. Due to the global pandemic, an increasing number of Medicare patients need urgent diagnostic imaging and image-guided procedures to assist in their recovery. RAs perform many less-complicated procedures under supervision so that radiologists may spend more time interpreting diagnostic images, diagnosing illnesses and managing complex cases. The PSRT believes that Medicare recognition of radiologist assistants will ensure continued access to quality care.

Enacting the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act will allow radiologist assistants to perform the services they are qualified to provide, and for radiology practices to be reimbursed for these services. Congress must act. Please contact U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, and Sen. Bob Casey, DPa., to get this critically needed legislation passed today. HELEN KATHERINE BRADLEY

Richland

Vaccine priority

When and if a coronavirus vaccine becomes available, who should be vaccinated first? The obvious choice is doctors, nurses and medical professionals who are on the front lines treating the disease. This, of course, includes first responders.

Those at risk with health issues should be next, the elderly next, then the people in the service industry, including grocery employees and food preparation employees. The poor should come immediately after. All others should fall in line afterward. This is how I think the vaccine should be administered. Let us see what happens in reality.

THOMAS J. GROCHALSKI

North Versailles

Nursing home risk

I have watched every report on TV and read all the articles in the newspapers regarding the large numbers of deaths at nursing homes of elderly residents with the coronavirus.

None of us ever imagined that the pandemic would strike the United States as it has. The very saddest thing is that nursing homes everywhere have suffered the most. Those residents were the most-targeted group where the virus was able to spread quickly and mortally.

We must keep in mind that most families made soulsearching decisions to have their family members admitted to nursing homes. Their loved ones needed more care than they were able to give. Nursing homes, for the most part, were considered safe, caring and well-supervised places for older family members. It is a tragedy.

What we must all keep in mind is that nursing homes are not hospitals. They are not UPMC hospitals or Allegheny General hospitals. They are homes where the elderly can live out their lives safely and well supervised. None of the directors of these institutions could have thought anything like this could ever happen. I would be very surprised if any of these homes had ventilators. It is so heartbreaking. I don’t think nursing homes were negligent — I just think they were never intended to be intensive care units.

I pray for a cure, a vaccine and for all the lost residents and those still suffering. MICHELE JANOSKO

Robinson

Scary situation

The COVID-19 virus is indeed a colossal threat that must be taken seriously with precautions to prevent its spread. But how much longer should we all remain in lockdown?

Yes, we must endeavor to take care of the sick and protect lives. But we must also do something about the millions of fellow Americans who have lost their jobs and the small businesses that are going under, especially since those at the bottom of the economic scale are suffering the most.

Given that about 80% of COVID-19 deaths are over age 65, why don’t we quarantine the most vulnerable and those who are already infected while allowing everyone else to return to their normal lives?

The problem with returning to normal is panic, fomented largely by the media and politicians. Consequently, many are frightened.

But others are not afraid. So why not allow those who want to return to work to do so with social distancing and improved testing? Those who are afraid to go to work could remain in lockdown.

Once those in quarantine realize that the workplace is safe, more and more will return.

In order for our immune systems to function at peak performance, we can’t be sequestered. We must allow ourselves to be exposed to the threats in the world. Remaining in lockdown just delays us from eventually facing this virus, and makes us all weaker.

Life is fragile and risky. That is the human condition. And we need to stop acting like frightened children and face reality before we destroy ourselves. DAVE MAJERNIK

Plum