Quality

The focus of quality improvement in healthcare is to bolster performance and processes related to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Leaders in this space also ensure the proper selection of imaging exams and procedures, and monitor the safety of services, among other duties. Reimbursement programs such as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) utilize financial incentives to improve quality. This also includes setting and maintaining care quality initiatives, such as the requirements set by the Joint Commission.

A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that between 2017 and 2019 the number of non-physician providers (NPPs, which includes nurse practitioners and physician assistants) employed by radiology only practices increased 18%. This increase was associated with more NPPs employed per practice, as well as an 11% increase in the number of practices employing them. 

What factors impact reader variability the most? New research offers insight

A new paper in Radiology explores factors that can lead to reader variability in CT imaging, from the radiologist’s experience level and subspecialty to navigation patterns and time spent interpreting. 

October 4, 2022
lung CT

New lesion measurement assesses treatment responses more accurately than RECIST

Researchers believe the new method of assessing treatment responses could pave the way for developing new cancer therapeutics.

September 30, 2022

Experts call for guidelines limiting interpretations during busy shifts, citing a reduction in error rates

When exam volumes increase, so too does the risk of diagnostic errors in interpretations, many of which can be clinically significant.

September 27, 2022

Experts concerned with radiation doses in young women call for stricter ordering criteria for CT exams

Experts found that compared to the average effective doses of organs, breast doses were higher, representing increased risks of breast cancer for women. 

September 26, 2022
Chest MRI

Improving the diagnostic value of portable imaging: Experts propose 3 interventions

After experts from one institution evaluated 500 portable chest x-rays completed during the summer of 2021, it was revealed that 46.2% of the images obtained were problematic, requiring the imaging to be repeated. 

September 20, 2022
Meeting

Might AI automation improve peer review?

With the software’s help, the ratio of CTs requiring radiologist review to missed findings identified was 10:1, experts shared, adding that without the help of AI that ratio would be at least 66:1. 

September 19, 2022

Deep learning reconstruction levels playing field between 1.5T and 3T MRI exams

Denoising using deep learning techniques can boost the performance of 1.5T MR brain imaging, resulting in quality comparable or superior to 3T imaging. 

September 16, 2022
Judge bangs gavel

A significant finding was missed by two radiologists, so why was only one held liable?

One radiologist is being held liable for a patient’s injuries due to a “breach of standard of care” despite another radiologist also missing the same significant finding, Canadian Lawyer reports. 

August 26, 2022

Around the web

"Gen AI can help tackle repetitive tasks and provide insights into massive datasets, saving valuable time," Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said Tuesday. 

SCAI and four other major healthcare organizations signed a joint letter in support of intravascular ultrasound. 

The newly approved AI models are designed to improve the detection of pulmonary embolisms and strokes in patients who undergo CT scans.

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