RSNA 2017: 5 sessions you do not want to miss

Temperatures are dropping and my front yard is covered in leaves, which means it’s almost time for another eventful RSNA annual meeting in Chicago.

Yes, RSNA 2017 is just a few weeks away, and it’s time to do some serious planning. I’ve spent some with this year’s schedule and wanted to share five can’t-miss sessions. You may not be able to attend every last one, but I do recommend you check out as many as possible.

1. Opening Session. Sunday, Nov. 26. 8:30-10:15 a.m.

If your flight lands in time, make sure you attend Sunday’s opening session. RSNA President Richard L. Ehman, MD, is scheduled to share his opening address and two other speakers—Roderic I. Pettigrew, PhD, MD, and Elias A. Zerhouni, MD—will follow. The Outstanding Educator and Outstanding Researcher awards will also be presented, putting a spotlight on the recipients for their hard work.

2. Will MACRA and MIPS Kill Your Practice? Sunday, Nov. 26. 2-3:30 p.m.

Quite the session title, eh? Don’t be scared, though, because this session is sure to feature a wealth of fascinating information for anyone worried about the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act or the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System. David Levin, MD, professor and chairman emeritus in the department of radiology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, is lined up to moderate.

3. Interacting Effectively with Referring Physicians in the Digital Age. Monday, Nov. 27. 8:30-10 a.m.

The relationship between radiologists and referring physicians is as important in today’s era of value-based care as it’s ever been, which makes this session a no-brainer as far as I’m concerned. Keep an ear out for tips about leveraging evolving technologies to improve communication and encourage more collaboration between colleagues.

This session features four thought leaders, including Andrew B. Rosenkrantz, MD, MPA, department of radiology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, so there will certainly be a lot of great information to be learned.

4. Cybersecurity for Imaging Departments and Imagers - Threats, Vulnerabilities and Best Practices: Part 1. Tuesday, Nov. 28. 8:30-10 a.m.

There are several interesting sessions competing for your attention Tuesday morning, but this might just be the cream of the crop. Expect to come away with a better understanding of common security threats found in medical devices, straightforward ways to combat such threats and what cybersecurity issues impact patient safety. As a bonus, you can stick around in the same room for Part 2 of the same session, which begins at 10:30 a.m. and features a new lineup of speakers.

5. Growing Your Business with Social Media: Tips and Tricks for Department and Practice Managers. Wednesday, Nov. 29. 8:30-10 a.m.

If you’ve been avoiding the social media hype train until now, it might be time to finally get on board. Using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is an effective way to help practices grow, and individual radiologists can even use them to promote their own personal brand. Alexander Towbin, MD, a radiologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, will be leading the session.

While I stopped this list at five, I could honestly list dozens of exciting sessions from this year’s schedule. RSNA is always a ton of fun, and this year’s conference looks like it will be no exception. McCormick Place, here we come!