AHIC developing health-IT-related quality measures

A work group that is part of the American Health Information Community has until the end of October to unveil recommended ways to connect health IT and programs designed to boost healthcare quality. According to comments from leaders of the work group, their efforts are not to generate totally new ways to measure quality, but rather to link various current efforts to gauge measurement that make use of health IT. The efforts of the group will also go towards assisting the ongoing work of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology regarding the certification of health-IT products.

Around the web

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.