ACR Drives Results at June AMA House of Delegates Meeting

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD), along with the members of the Radiology Section Council, made significant contributions to the outcome of several resolutions debated at the AMA’s Annual HOD Meeting. The meeting provides a crucial opportunity for ACR to connect with physicians and leaders from across the house of medicine.

The ACR team engaged in policy discussions, helping to shape the future of healthcare and ensure the voice of radiology is heard loud and clear. Resolutions radiology weighed in on during the debates include:

• Inclusion of digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) imaging in federal interoperability standards: ACR worked hard to amend and pass this resolution, closing a critical gap that burdens patients, delays care and leads to unnecessary repeat imaging and radiation exposure.
• Improving public awareness of lung cancer screening and CAD in chronic smokers: The College succeeded in getting a measure tabled in order to allow more time to research the complexity of using low-dose computed tomography for lung cancer to detect coronary artery calcification.
• Mandating properly fitting lead aprons in hospitals recommendation: ACR provided significant input and encouraged the HOD to refer the resolution’s specific request of facilities stocking appropriate sizes of lead aprons to the Council on Science and Public Health study of radiation safety in clinical settings; the HOD agreed with ACR’s suggestion to refer the resolution.
• Clinical and public safety implications of AI-generated content and symbolic compliance infrastructure: ACR delegates worked with the authors of the resolution to clarify and clearly state its intent to provide numerous transparency and safety measures for the use of AI in clinical and public health settings. The amended resolution was adopted by the HOD.

In other College news from the meeting, ACR member Sheila D. Rege, MD, a radiation oncologist, was elected to the AMA Board of Trustees. Dr. Rege is the first radiation oncologist to ever be elected to this position in its 177-year history.

For more information about ACR’s participation in the HOD meeting, contact Josh Cooper, ACR Vice President, Congressional Affairs, Government Relations.