Over the past five years, medical imaging enterprises have learned the hard way that adaptability and flexibility are prized qualities required for survival. They have weathered reimbursement cuts, increased scrutiny and the general feeling that they are ceding control of their businesses to outside agencies with agendas and motivations far different than theirs. What was once a smooth operation providing key medical information is now a daily battle to maintain viability.

Purchase a vendor-neutral archive (VNA). Design it to store DICOM and non–DICOM images. Integrate it seamlessly with electronic medical record (EMR) system. Watch its users visually enrich their patients’ medical records.

Reimbursement cuts, market consolidation, and health-care reform have sparked significant changes in the imaging-technology strategies being implemented across the radiology landscape. Practices, imaging centers, and hospital radiology departments alike not only are altering the manner in which they formulate decisions on imaging-equipment acquisition, but also are adopting different approaches to demonstrating the need for new technology, to acquiring capital for equipment purchases, and to maintaining the assets that they already have.

North American Spine Society (NASS) adds advanced medical imaging for some back pain to list of questionable procedures kept by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Choosing Wisely initiative

Recognizing that one of the obstacles to getting x-ray access to patients in developing nations is simply knowledge, the Rotary Club of Park Ridge, Ill, has put the information and experience it has gathered installing x-ray rooms in Africa, Central Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean online in a free library resource

Avoid performing routine post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) ultrasonography screening in patients who undergo elective hip or knee arthroplasty, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) in its contribution to the Choosing Wisely list of frequently ordered but often unnecessary medical tests and procedures

Despite increased oversight, declining reimbursements, and other broadsides that have hit medical imaging over the past few years, growth opportunities are available. One commonly overlooked source of scan volume and the resulting revenue is the lien patient.

In a comment letter to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, the ACR made clear its position that the proposed separate cost centers for CT and MR in the 2014 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment (HOPPS) rule is a bad idea