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.

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Primary care docs order fewer imaging exams when seeing patients via video or phone

That according to a new large-scale analysis from Kaiser Permanente, published in JAMA Network Open.  

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CMS’ oncology alternative payment model reduced utilization of imaging services in Medicare

The alternative payment model was associated with modest changes, including about 46 fewer imaging services used per 1,000 care episodes, experts wrote in JAMA. 

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Mammography screening rates low among transgender and nonbinary patients. 2 possible fixes

Gendering of anatomy is one screening barrier, with terms such as "breasts" often discomforting for certain patients, experts wrote recently. 

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Pandemic provides priority-setting opportunity to scrutinize low-value imaging, experts say

After COVID-related disruptions let up last year, the use of certain exams did not return at the same rate as prior to 2020, according to new data.

quality

American College of Radiology unveils new imaging appropriateness criteria

ACR recently updated its influential quality guidelines, including five fresh topics and eight revisions to previously released updates. 

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Large Medicare study explores common predictors of low-value imaging among hospital systems

Those with a lower share of primary care docs or no teaching hospital are more likely to deliver wasteful care, according to an analysis of 11M patients treated at 556 hospital systems.

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Radiologists could cut surgery costs with imaging-first approach to common foot ailment

The specialty plays a crucial role in both diagnosing and treating Morton's neuroma, researchers detailed in the American Journal of Roentgenology. 

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FDA warns troubled imaging center following similar state alert alleging ‘serious risk to human health’

Hoffman Imaging & Medical Center reportedly let its mammography accreditation lapse in October 2019 but continued to deliver exams anyway, the FDA alleged. 

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Around the web

Health Imaging
Nearly $800,000 settlement offered to family of man who died during MRI exam

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

Cardiovascular Business
Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

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.

Cardiovascular Business
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

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.