Signs that a radiology practice merger is (or isn’t) working

Various factors have combined to create a perfect storm pushing radiology practices to seek mergers that help ensure their survival. However, myriad factors can combine to potentially derail a deal, experts warn.

Freelance writer Laura Sirtonski explores some of these key considerations in a feature story published Monday by RSNA News. She highlighted some of the signs of an unsuccessful merger, which can include decreased productivity and work quality, along with squabbling between coworkers or frequent sick days.

“There are all sorts of ways to measure the success of a merger, including finances, service quality, and satisfaction of hospital administrators, but ultimately the most important measure is whether the radiologists are happier at work,” Catherine J. Everett, MD, MBA, with industry giant Radiology Partners, who spoke on this topic as RSNA 2023 in November, told the website. “If they are, then all of those other measures will follow. If they aren’t, then it's not a successful merger.”

Read the rest from RSNA News:

Marty Stempniak

Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic. 

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.