Business Intelligence

Providers utilize business intelligence to monitor referral patterns and collaborate with clinicians who order their services. Such analytics tools have also been deployed in the specialty to improve productivity, track patient satisfaction and bolster quality.

Evaluating a Practice Merger

Veterans will confirm that there is no perfect practice merger, but by following the signposts and avoiding the pitfalls, it is possible to craft a merger that works well for both parties. Nicole Palmer, CPA, has shepherded dozens of practice mergers in her role as client support for Management Services Network, Charlotte, NC, and she shared the

Leveraging Design for Improved Imaging Performance

Although imaging technology continues to expand in complexity and to manifest itself at a fast pace, the world of medical imaging is evolving beyond more or newer technology to incorporating design to make technology more effective..

Prognostications on the Future of the Business of Radiology

The aftershocks of the reimbursement decreases from the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 are beginning to be seen. Combined with other marketplace events, this is leading to interesting times in the radiology business. Some of the forces of change that are creating the tremors are well known: reimbursement cuts, the publishing of imaging prices, the

Leading Texas-sized Austin Radiological Association

When it comes to size and influence, Austin Radiological Association (ARA) has few peers. The practice of 72—and soon to be more—radiologists employs 700 people (580 FTEs) in Austin. In addition to covering every one of the 16 hospitals in central Texas, ARA archives most of the radiological images generated at those sites on its regional PACS. The

Aging Well for Radiologists

Many of the reasons for impaired physician performance (such as physical illness, substance abuse, or psychological difficulties) will not affect all physicians, but all who are fortunate enough to reach an advanced age will have to struggle, sooner or later, with its effects on their work, notes Richard B. Gunderman, MD, PhD, associate professor

Heeding the Clarion Call

Like a POW on rice and water eating his first rib eye, an editor of a certain age finds no greater pleasure than getting her hands on 60-pound–paper stock after spending a year in the ether of electronic media. If you are reading this, I sincerely hope you are holding it.

Get on Board With Virtualized Servers

Sponsored by FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas

As any PACS administrator can attest, the cost of advanced imaging technology is higher than the price of a new CT or PET scanner. As the number of DICOM images attained per scan increases exponentially, software and hardware alike have a hard time keeping up with the load; no matter how powerful your PACS, without the back-end server power

Being an Effective Leader in Turbulent Times

The world of outpatient imaging changed suddenly when Congress passed historic legislation known as Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005. Almost immediately, professional organizations began lobbying efforts to delay implementation of this legislation for two years so that companies would have time to prepare for this devastating event. Most

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CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.