The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) is an American national organization of physicians, scientists and allied health professionals dedicated to improving public health through the use of minimally invasive, image-guided therapeutic interventions for disease management.It was founded in 1973 as the Society of Cardiovascular Radiology by an active group in the field who wanted to further develop interventional aspects of radiology. It changed its name to the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology in 1983. In April 2002, the name was changed to Society of Interventional Radiology in order to emphasise the expanding role of interventional radiology that is no longer limited to the cardiovascular system. The society comprises about 7,000 members (March 2017): including practicing physicians, trainees, scientists and clinical associates, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, radiologic technologists and paramedical professionals. Katharine L. Krol served as first woman president.[citation needed] The Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology is its official journal..
Timely hemorrhage control is a critical determinant of survival after traumatic injury. Advances in endovascular techniques have expanded the role of interventional radiology, making it an essential component of contemporary trauma care. This position statement affirms the importance of rapid hemorrhage control, emphasizes the role of interventional radiologists as integral members of multidisciplinary trauma teams, and clarifies expectations related to the American College of Surgeons Verification, Review, and Consultation (VRC) Program standards for interventional radiology resources and availability. It also provides guidance for trauma centers to optimize institutional processes and coordination between trauma surgery and interventional radiology to ensure timely and effective hemorrhage control for injured patients.
The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) has introduced the Clinical Care Recommendation (CCR) framework to improve the development and communication of clinical guidelines in interventional radiology (IR). This framework combines rigorous evidence assessment with practical clinical decision-making to better reflect the complexities of IR practice. Recommendations are assigned a CCR strength (Strong, Moderate, Limited, No Benefit, Potential Harm) alongside a GRADE certainty rating, with wording aligned to strength categories for clear clinical interpretation.
The urgency for climate action is recognized by international government and health care organizations, including the United Nations and World Health Organization. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution negatively impact all life on earth. All populations are impacted but not equally; the most vulnerable are at highest risk, an inequity further exacerbated by differences in access to health care globally. The delivery of health care exacerbates the planetary health crisis through greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to combustion of fossil fuels for medical equipment production and operation, creation of medical and non-medical waste, and contamination of water supplies. As representatives of radiology societies from across the globe who work closely with industry, and both governmental and non-governmental leaders in multiple capacities, we advocate together for urgent, impactful, and measurable changes to the way we deliver care by further engaging our members, policymakers, industry partners, and our patients. Simultaneous challenges including global health disparities, resource allocation, and access to care must inform these efforts. Climate literacy should be increasingly added to radiology training programs. More research is required to understand and measure the environmental impact of radiological services and inform mitigation, adaptation, and monitoring efforts. Deeper collaboration with industry partners is necessary to support innovations in the supply chain, energy utilization, and circular economy. Many solutions have been proposed and are already available, but we must understand and address barriers to implementation of current and future sustainable innovations. Finally, there is a compelling need to partner with patients, to ensure that trust in the excellence of clinical care is maintained during the transition to sustainable radiology. By fostering a culture of global cooperation and rapid sharing of solutions among the broader imaging community, we can transform radiological practice to mitigate its environmental impact, adapt and develop resilience to current and future climate and environmental threats, and simultaneously improve access to care.
