Management

This page includes content on healthcare management, including health system, hospital, department and clinic business management and administration. Areas of focus are on cardiology and radiology department business administration. Subcategories covered in this section include healthcare economics, reimbursement, leadership, mergers and acquisitions, policy and regulations, practice management, quality, staffing, and supply chain.

Looser Rules on Approving Alzheimer’s Drugs Could Be Boon to PET Imaging

Previously, drug developers had to show that drugs improved functions of daily living. However, the FDA is proposing to loosen this requirement so researchers can test if experimental drugs may work better if given before dementia begins, when the disease may only be visible through brain PET imaging.

Idaho and Michigan Radiologic Technologist Groups Seek Licensure Laws

The effort to require radiologic technologists to obtain a state license to practice continues in two of the states without such laws. The Michigan Society of Radiologic Technologists, is seeking a bill, while in Idaho, there is a bill but it may be stalled in committee

CMS Eases Path to Oncology PET Tracer Coverage

The agency agreed to the request by the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) to remove non-coverage language for PET radiopharmaceuticals that receive approval from the FDA and allow local Medicare contractors to choose to cover or not cover PET scans using newly FDA-approved tracers.

Strategic Radiology Launches Patient Safety Organization

With the intention of establishing “a safety organization that can serve as a national model,” Strategic Radiology (SR) of Palmetto is seeking formal AHRQ certification for its new Patient Safety Organization (PSO)

North Carolina May Weigh Radiologic Technologist Licensure Requirement

In the interest of patient safety, the North Carolina Society of Radiologic Technologists hope a bill to require RTs to be licensed by the state may soon be introduced in the state legislature

RadNet Financials Reveal Impact of Sandy

Between 120 and 130 RadNet locations were impacted by power outages and patients being unable to keep appointments due to the November hurricane. In RadNet’s fourth quarter financial statement, the company puts the value of the lost business at $3.5 million

Swearingen Vows RIS Is ICD-10 Ready, Are You?

Swearingen Software, Inc, Houston Texas, vendor of one of radiology’s last remaining standalone RIS solutions, has announced that its RISynergy is ICD-10 ready.

CMS Issues Guidance on Sequestration Cuts

Following the requirements of the Budget Control Act of 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin reducing all Medicare Fee for Service (FFS) program payments by 2 percent starting on April 1, unless Congress acts to halt the cuts

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.