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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breast radiologist breast cancer mammography

ACR, Society of Breast Imaging issue updated guidance for screening women with average cancer risk

The two advocacy groups shared their revisions on June 18 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology. 

lung cancer pulmonary nodule chest

Radiologists and others launching large-scale initiative to tackle incidental lung nodule blind spot

Some 850 lung cancer centers of excellence are helping pinpoint nodule-management best practices and offering guidance to providers without programs in place. 

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Quality effort yields significant drop in kidney stone CT radiation exposure

The multifaceted approach included education and personalized consultation to help radiologists adopt reduced-radiation imaging protocols. 

quality excellence star stethoscope

National Quality Forum seeking feedback on 2 radiology-related payment measures

NQF-endorsed measures serve as a "critically important foundation" for initiatives to enhance healthcare value, the American College of Radiology noted. 

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Radiologist must apologize to family after missing free gas on CT prior to patient’s death

A government watchdog said the miss was solely attributed to the radiologist, with “no contributing systemic or other issues.” 

liver cancer

Radiologist reprimanded for failing to disclose difficulties interpreting CT scan, leading to patient’s death

The physician's misstep contributed to "unacceptable" delays in the woman’s liver cancer diagnosis and treatment, according to a consumer watchdog's report on the incident. 

surgery value quality pre-op

Majority of patients receive unnecessary imaging and other tests before low-risk surgeries

Such low-value testing can include chest X-rays or ultrasound of the heart that add extra costs for the patient without improving outcomes, Michigan Medicine experts wrote in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

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Head and neck cancer patients paying tens of thousands for unnecessary imaging and radiologist reads

Asymptomatic individuals received four surveillance scans each year at an annual cost of $9,600, experts wrote in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. 

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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.