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.

Meeting

Radiologists who attend tumor boards record fewer errors

Those who were on the path to retirement were more likely to commit errors and less likely to attend tumor boards.

May 16, 2022
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Radiologist skill level, not preference, to blame for varied diagnoses, new study suggests

Experts arrived at this conclusion after analyzing 4.67 million chest radiographs on patients with suspected pneumonia.

May 12, 2022
A medical professional trained to manage contrast reactions should be on-site at any imaging facilities doing contrast studies to maintain patient safety, according to a an updated statement from the American College of Radiology. The ACR has released the latest edition of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria, which includes 221 diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology topics with more than 1,050 clinical variants covering 2,900 clinical scenarios. #ACR #AUC #appropriateuse

Links to 20 new and revised American College of Radiology appropriate use criteria

The American College of Radiology (ACR) released the latest edition of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria

April 20, 2022
The FDA tracks mammography systems and the number of exams performed in the U.S. through its Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) program. This is an example of the GE Senobright HD imaging system.

3D mammography approaching 50% of breast imaging systems in the U.S.

The latest U.S. Food and Drug Administration data on mammography systems installed nationwide shows DBT systems are rapidly replacing traditional 2D full field digital mammography units.

March 2, 2022
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Only 21% of U.S. hospitals comply with price transparency mandate for shoppable imaging exams

The maximum charge for a contrast-enhanced pelvic CT was listed as $14,238 compared to a minimum of $193, exemplifying a wide variation in exam pricing.

January 19, 2022
Money dollar investments

Radiologist preferences driving significant cost variability in common imaging-guided procedures

Stanford scientists believe the data underline the need to educate rads about standardization to help curb costs and deliver value.

March 29, 2021

Offering imaging exam for free ups utilization by 546%, with key gains in underserved populations

University Hospitals Health System tested the pricing change in a bid to boost outcomes in its service area. 

September 23, 2020
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US Imaging experts cast further doubts about CT’s place in radiologists’ COVID diagnosis toolkit

A group of a 11 U.S. imaging experts are the latest to join this group, publishing their reservations in the American Journal of Roentgenology. 

April 16, 2020

Around the web

Automated AI-generated measurements combined with annotated CT images can improve treatment planning and help referring physicians and patients better understand their disease, explained Sarah Jane Rinehart, MD, director of cardiac imaging with Charleston Area Medical Center.

Two advanced algorithms—one for CAC scores and another for segmenting cardiac chamber volumes—outperformed radiologists when assessing low-dose chest CT scans. 

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

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