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.

mammogram mammography breast cancer

Patient self-scheduling significantly increases mammography completion rates

This small, low-cost practice change is a promising way to increase cancer screening participation, researchers detailed recently. 

breast cancer mammography screening mammogram scheduling

Startup aiming to streamline medical imaging appointments raises $9M

Medmo has now expanded nationwide, supporting clients including imaging centers, primary care groups, large hospital systems and virtual health providers. 

radiology reporting EHR health record CDS AUC

Radiologist launches ‘groundbreaking’ second-opinion service with 24-hour turnaround time

RadiologyCheck.com is slated to launch soon, allowing patients across the globe to easily upload files “within seconds.” 

quality

Novel ‘next level of care’ protocol reduces wait times for follow-up services in radiology

Those involved believe the approach is “reproducible and systematic” and can potentially be applied nationally for any biopsies involving radiologists. 

radiologist radiology pay compensation money dollar

Medicare finalizes 2024 physician fee schedule with radiologist pay cuts, pause of AUC program

Physician advocacy groups including the RBMA, ASTRO, MGMA and AMA criticized the final rule, with the latter calling it a "recipe for financial instability." 

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Radiology vendor Covera Health raises up to $50M in financing, acquires AI firm

Coupled with its acquisition of CoRead—an AI quality assurance company used by over 2,000 hospitals—the startup plans to rapidly scale its offerings. 

overnight night shift attending radiologist burnout

New MRI guidelines help decrease call burden on off-hours neuroradiologists by 74%

“As radiology strives to lessen staff call burden, generalist triage can sustain clinical service levels and reduce at-home call burnout,” experts wrote in JACR

Prior authorization for imaging causing anxiety, administrative burden for cancer patients

Payers most frequently require PA for imaging (71%), followed by IV chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, according to new survey data. 

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.