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.

Same-day discharge after interventional radiology procedure saves money without impacting outcomes
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with bed space at a premium, UAB Medicine started sending patients home after percutaneous cryoablation of renal tumors.
Collaborative bolsters prostate MRI quality, with 1 site realizing $559,000 in reimbursement gains
Some of the most commonly deployed interventions included protocol adjustments, standardized patient prep instructions and personnel training.
IAEA: When selecting medical imaging equipment, don’t assume ‘new’ means ‘low dose’
Advanced imaging equipment using ionizing radiation enters the global market at the rate of one new technology every five years.
American College of Radiology adds 6 new topics to its influential imaging appropriateness criteria
The update covers scenarios such as thoracic back pain (where imaging usually isn't appropriate) and penetrating torso trauma (which sometimes requires X-rays or CT).
Radiologists at a clear disadvantage in Medicare’s MIPS program, new study shows
In 2021, there were only nine available MIPS measures for diagnostic radiology versus 65 in family medicine, Neiman Health Policy Institute experts report.

$An example of HeartFlow's FFR-CT technology, which takes the cardiac CT dataset and uses computational fluid dynamics to create virtual fraction flow reserve values. The FFR measurement can help determine if a coronary lesion is significant enough to require revascularization, or if the patient should be treated with medication. FFR-CT was included as a recommendation in select patients in the 2021 Chest Pain Guidelines.$

Researchers question FFR-CT’s value compared to other cardiac imaging options

FFR-CT has grown in popularity due its ability to provide noninvasive evaluations of patients being considered for revascularization procedures. According to a new study in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging, however, stress imaging strategies may still provide more value in certain scenarios.

May 10, 2023

Radiology-specific alternative payment model in the works to counter ‘devastating decline’ in reimbursement

The Radiology Business Management Association said it hopes to meet with key members of Congress soon to discuss the proposal.

April 19, 2023

EHR a key contributing factor to diagnostic errors in radiology, legal claims analysis finds

About 20% of the small sample of EHR-related errors occurred in radiology, informatics experts wrote in JAMA Network Open.

April 14, 2023

Common features of missed lung cancer on chest X-ray

It is crucial for radiologists to beware of these missed cases in routine practice, experts wrote recently in Clinical Imaging.

April 14, 2023

quality imaging appropriateness clinical decision support CAS AUC

ACR updates influential imaging appropriateness criteria with 4 new topics

The additions pertain to liver function tests, heart disease, dialysis fistula malfunction, and head and neck cancer, the college said Tuesday.

April 12, 2023

Female Medical Research Scientist Working with Brain Scans

Neuroradiologists make more mistakes when facing these 3 scenarios

“These findings should be considered when designing workflow-related and other interventions seeking to reduce errors," experts wrote in AJR.

March 30, 2023

MRI protocol tweak nets big savings for hospital system while opening up additional exam slots

An inordinate number of patients with metallic hardware were receiving inappropriate MRIs without a key sequence to reduce related artifacts.

March 30, 2023

AI aids nonphysicians in obtaining diagnostic-quality ultrasound images in the ED

Registered nurses, NPs and EMTs bolstered the quality of their scans with the help of deep learning-based guidance.

March 29, 2023

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Medicare drops AUC requirement for advanced imaging, ASNC celebrates

"This was an unneeded burden, which was solely adding to the administrative hassles of medicine," said American Society of Nuclear Cardiology President Larry Phillips.

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiology, radiology groups urge insurance provider to rethink imaging policy

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

Cardiovascular Business

Radiology AI company gains FDA clearance for new CT offerings focused on PE, stroke

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

Quality

Same-day discharge after interventional radiology procedure saves money without impacting outcomes

Collaborative bolsters prostate MRI quality, with 1 site realizing $559,000 in reimbursement gains

IAEA: When selecting medical imaging equipment, don’t assume ‘new’ means ‘low dose’

American College of Radiology adds 6 new topics to its influential imaging appropriateness criteria

Radiologists at a clear disadvantage in Medicare’s MIPS program, new study shows

Around the web