vRad expands national imaging database

Virtual Radiologic (vRad), a Mednax company that specializes in teleradiology services and telemedicine, has enhanced and updated its Radiology Patient Care Indices, a national radiology database.

The database, a national projection of the U.S. imaging market, is based on vRad’s clinical collection of imaging studies from more than 2,100 facilities in all 50 states. vRad, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, expanded the database to include data from 2011 to 2015, the company said in a statement.

The database provides hospitals, radiology groups and health systems with free objective metrics that they can compare to their own imaging statistics. The RPC Indices are based on patient variables including age, gender, body region, geography, hospital and IDN type, bed size, modality, reasons for study order and findings status.

"Measuring healthcare performance and proving quality and value requires data and analytic,” said Shannon Werb, CIO and COO at vRad, in a statement. “Using a normalized data set allows radiology groups and hospitals to objectively compare their own use of imaging to relevant peer groups.”

The databases’ purpose is to help providers better manage costs while improving operating efficiencies, leadership and quality.

"vRad continues to make RPC Indices available for free and unrestricted use because it's the right thing to do to elevate radiology as a valued partner," Werb said. "We continue to see examples of how RPC Indices are helping our practice and those of our partners improve operational efficiencies and the quality of care for the patient communities we collectively serve."