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.

rib fracture broken ribs

Advanced MSK imaging trio—CT, MR, ultrasound—justified for certain trauma patients upon incident and over time

The comprehensive approach may be warranted for patients whose musculoskeletal injuries include fractures of the costal cartilage. 

Image-based data commons enjoying fast growth thanks to RSNA, ACR, other contributing orgs

A multi-institutional image-data repository launched to support AI-based research into COVID-19 has been the beneficiary of more than 30,000 anonymized imaging files from the Radiological Society of North America alone.

Radiologists best AI at diagnosing COVID on chest X-rays

AI can help humans inspect chest X-rays for COVID-19, but the technology is unfit to serve as a standalone diagnostic tool for that purpose. 

How will 18% population growth led by the aging show up in U.S. radiology utilization?

If demography is indeed destiny, U.S. healthcare is headed for a major escalation in spending on medical imaging over the next three decades. 

Potential $1.5B effort kicks off to study low-dose radiation risks

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have released a report estimating $100 million will be needed for each of the next 15 years to learn how exposure to low doses of radiation affect human health.

Skyrocketing rates of head CT in the ED: Don’t look at advanced practice providers

The meteoric rise of noncontrast head CT in emergency settings is not explained by the conspicuous proliferation of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the ED.

GE, Philips, Siemens pass academic test on low-dose DECT

Comparing six dual-energy CT technologies marketed by three scanner manufacturers, radiology researchers have found all models helpful in determining the chemical composition of kidney stones even at substantially reduced radiation doses.

Crowdsourced X-rays suitable for training AI in orthopedic injuries

The Internet is an acceptable source of images for training algorithms to automatically triage patients with dislocated joints and similar orthopedic emergencies. 

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.