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.

In postmenopausal women with normal BMI, high body fat levels linked to increased breast cancer risk

High body fat levels are associated with an increased breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women with a normal boxy mass index (BMI), according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s “Obesity and Cancer: Mechanisms Underlying Etiology and Outcomes” conference.

Working to better understand female healthcare consumers is crucial to radiology’s future

A majority of women in the United States make the healthcare decisions for both themselves and the other members of their households. According to an editorial published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, failing to truly understand and appreciate the perspective of women when they assume the role of healthcare consumers does them a great disservice.

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Chest CT for suspected pulmonary embolism in the ED: Utilization is up, diagnostic yield is down

CT utilization in the emergency department (ED) has increased significantly in the last few decades, a fact often cited as one of the major reasons healthcare costs and radiation exposure are on the rise. So what can be done to reverse that trend?

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In Boston, a 3D power user raises the bar for pediatric imaging

Sponsored by FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas

If you put a leading-edge 3D visualization platform in the hands of a fearlessly tech-forward radiologist, don’t be surprised if some real innovation emerges. That’s one lesson to be drawn from a recent cross-subspecialty adaptation of a Fujifilm Synapse® 3D component called Sector MPR. 

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High false-positive rate raises questions about LCS project

Researchers knew more information was needed when they saw the false-positive rate of the Veterans Health Administration lung cancer screening (LCS) demonstration project (58.2 percent) was considerably higher than the false-positive rate of the National Lung Screening Trial (26.3 percent).

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Consistent exercise linked to increased lifespan of breast cancer survivors

Regularly participating in resistance and aerobic exercise could increase the lifespan of breast cancer survivors, according to a new study published by the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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4 ways working overnight shifts can affect a radiologist’s performance

Many radiologists will experience overnight shift (ONS) work during their career, either as a resident or an attending-level physician. So how does working such hours affect a specialist’s ability to do their job?

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How are supply-side factors associated with county-level screening mammography rates?

Supply-side factors such as the number of mammography facilities and the number of breast imaging specialists are weakly associated with county-level Medicare beneficiary screening mammography rates, according to a new study published in Academic Radiology.

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The ACR hopes these changes, including the addition of diagnostic performance feedback, will help reduce the number of patients with incidental nodules lost to follow-up each year.

And it can do so with almost 100% accuracy as a first reader, according to a new large-scale analysis.

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