Phoenix Radiology inks deal with critical access hospital after previous imaging partner departs

A 25-bed critical access hospital has inked a deal with Phoenix Radiology to handle its imaging services after the previous partner departed.

Clarkston, Washington-based TriState Health had worked with Twin Cities Radiology for 25 years, with the practice ending the partnership due to retirement. Phoenix Radiology, out of Lewiston, Idaho, will now assume the contract, adding new interventional services such as PICC placement and dialysis catheter insertion.

“Our previous radiologist group left a wonderful legacy, and now we have the opportunity to build on that legacy with the latest technology and our new radiologist partner, Phoenix Radiology,” Wendy Stirnkorb, director of imaging services at TriState, said in a March 27 announcement.

Phoenix Radiology, which employs four board certified physicians, declined to comment Wednesday. Along with new IR services, the practice will continue providing image-guided biopsies, lumbar punctures, drains and other routine procedures, along with breast and prostate MRI and coronary CT angiograms. Established in 2004, Phoenix also serves as the interpreting radiology group for other hospitals in the tristate area such as St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho, Syringa General Hospital, Grangeville, Idaho, and Valley Medical Center, Renton, Washington.

The practice also will add an after-hours virtual service to ensure timely reporting during overnight hours, according to the announcement.

Marty Stempniak

Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic. 

Around the web

The patient, who was being cared for in the ICU, was not accompanied or monitored by nursing staff during his exam, despite being sedated.

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.