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.

RSNA Trendwatch: Structured Reporting

Call it structured, call it actionable, or call it both -- whatever name you give it, it's undeniable that improving radiology reports is a significant trend at this year's RSNA

2014 MPFS Includes Additional Imaging Cuts and Makes SGR Threat Real

The final 2014 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule includes particularly harsh news for providers of image-guided breast biopsies, and threatens a 24% reimbursement cut to all physicians if the SGR is allowed to go into effect on New Year's Day

RSNA and Regenstrief Institute Team on Standardizing Radiology Procedure Naming

Creating a common system of radiology procedure names is an important step in achieving interoperability of radiology test results in electronic medical record systems and health information exchange, say the two organizations

More Than 700 Vendors Bring Latest to RSNA

A total of 705 exhibitors are in attendance this year, and of those, 105 are first-time exhibitors at RSNA. Check our list of new product releases

RSNA President: Multidisciplinary Teams Key to Radiology's Future

In her opening session address, Sarah Donaldson, M.D., called on radiologists to focus on becoming bigger players in multidisciplinary teams that meet directly with patients as a way to demonstrate radiology's value to the public

New Payment Models Driving Imaging Decision Support: Desert Radiologists

McKesson

As accountable care organizations and other forms of integrated delivery networks take root nationwide, independent radiology practices are experiencing a phenomenon not regularly seen since the 1990s: capitated contracts. “The biggest change our group has seen recently is the rise in capitated contracts, where we receive a fixed reimbursement for providing imaging for a whole patient population,” says Whitney Edmister, MD, PhD, of Desert Radiologists, a 54-physician practice based in Las Vegas, Nevada. “We receive a monthly payment to provide all necessary imaging services, allowing health plans to better control their costs.”

Hologic Facing Possible Hostile Takeover Attempt

Breast imaging manufacturer Hologic adopted a poison pill plan after billionaire activist investor Carl Ichan, 77, announced that he had acquired a nearly 13% stake in the company

Sutter Acquires Radiological Associates of Sacramento

After learning to live without Sutter Health since 2010, Radiological Associates of Sacramento (RAS) will join once again with the Northern California-based health network

Around the web

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

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.

The all-in-one Omni Legend PET/CT scanner is now being manufactured in a new production facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin.