Optimal Radiology Partners Scales Successful Sub-Specialty Reading Business to More Than 2 Million Studies

Intelerad software enables simultaneous increases in quality and efficiency for Optimal Radiology Partners, facilitating dramatic growth during a challenging time in the healthcare industry.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Optimal Radiology Partners (ORP) was formed in late 2012 as a joint venture between Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (ADI) and Optimal Radiology. Comprised of more than 100 radiologists, ORP delivers high quality sub-specialty interpretations around the clock, efficiently and cost-effectively, to millions of patients across the country.

Technology Platform Key to Enhanced Quality, Operational Efficiency

The joint venture has capitalized on the strengths of the two forming organizations to create a radiology powerhouse. With ADI's proven IT infrastructure applied to Optimal Radiology's national network and established clinical processes, ORP delivers high quality sub-specialty interpretations around the clock, efficiently and cost-effectively, to millions of patients across the country.

Founded in 1966, ADI is a leader in the use of technology to improve the quality and efficiency of care. In addition to its successful teleradiology practice, ADI owns and operates the Tennessee region's largest network of outpatient imaging centers. The IT infrastructure that has enabled ADI's growth and success is a cornerstone of the joint venture.

Intelerad Software at Core of Proven IT Infrastructure

Essential to ADI's technology platform are Intelerad's IntelePACS^® and InteleOne^® solutions. Adopted by ADI in 2007, IntelePACS provides an enterprise-level system for the seamless archiving, distributing, and secure sharing of images and reports. With IntelePACS, ADI grew very rapidly, expanding into teleradiology and increasing from one outpatient center to nine in just five years.

IntelePACS enables ADI to optimize the delivery of high quality, sub-specialized care to the patients of its imaging center network and teleradiology clients. "We take our service metrics very seriously," says Dr. Chad Calendine, CEO of ADI and Chief Medical Officer for the ORP joint venture. "We take sub-specialization very seriously. With Intelerad software, we can deliver both in an optimized way."

These concepts are central to the philosophy and goals of the joint venture, which has a much broader, national reach. Reflecting on the evolution of the healthcare industry, Calendine is realistic and practical. "In healthcare, as a society, we need to spend less and get more for it," he says. "Successful radiology practices are going to have to continue to deliver better service at a lower cost."

InteleOne Takes Quality, Efficiency Optimizations Nationwide

The joint venture is extending the quality and efficiency benefits offered by ADI's technology platform to a growing list of imaging centers, community hospitals, small critical access sites, and large hospitals. The adoption of Intelerad's InteleOne distributed radiology solution is enabling this expansion.

InteleOne streamlines workflows from disparate PACS, HIS, and RIS into a unified reading solution. It provides a common viewer and worklist, providing seamless access to all studies, including priors, regardless of location. "InteleOne means one PACS, one worklist, one everything." says Bennie Wilson, IT Director for ADI. "Without InteleOne, I have a reading room that has four different PACS systems in it. InteleOne streamlines everything."

Single Worklist Enables 15-Minute Report Turnaround

InteleOne makes it possible to deliver the same high-quality, sub-specialty care to hundreds of thousands of additional patients in a highly efficient way. "With an InteleOne solution, we get more highly-qualified radiologists on the same worklist, reading the studies that they are best trained to read," says Calendine. "We can get all two million exams on a common worklist."

ORP radiologists achieve high efficiency for these sub-specialized reads, providing interpretations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Typically contracted at 30 minutes, ORP radiologists routinely achieve turnaround times of less than 15 minutes, thanks to the single worklist. "It hits the list, we read it," Calendine says. "As soon as it's available, day or night, we read it."

InteleOne also provides seamless access to prior studies, a key advantage that directly enhances both quality and efficiency. "With InteleOne, it is as if you are sitting right there in the hospital with that native PACS environment," Calendine says. "InteleOne locates the priors and provides full access, so we can generate a complete and accurate report."

Numerous Report Delivery Options Impress Referring Clinicians

The broad range of report delivery options increases referring clinician satisfaction, making it easier to retain clients and attract new business. "Intelerad offers the entire spectrum of referring clinician access," says Calendine. This includes web-based, zero-footprint options as well as native applications for Mac, PC and mobile platforms.

Better Care, Lower Cost for Facilities of All Sizes

The opportunity to scale a robust and highly successful IT infrastructure was the driving force behind the 2012 partnerhsip creating ORP. By extending this proven Intelerad-based platform to a growing list of facilities, the joint venture is delivering better care to millions of patients while lowering costs for outpatient centers, critical access sites, and hospitals of all sizes.

"In our practice, IntelePACS and InteleOne enable us to be more efficient while creating a higher quality product," says Calendine. "That is the pinnacle of any improvement in a business process."