Managing a radiology practice to achieve increased effectiveness and improved productivity is essential not only for survival, but also to maintain positive cash flow in today’s healthcare environment.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - (May 19, 2014) - Zotec Partners (Zotec), an industry-leading provider of radiology billing and practice management services, announces an exclusive revenue cycle management (RCM) partnership with Radiology & Imaging Consultants, P.C. (RIC), a provider of radiology and imaging services in Colorado Springs, Colo. Under the new agreement, Zotec will support RIC with comprehensive RCM technology and services designed to minimize days in A/R, reduce compliance risk and increase collections.

While Meaningful Use is certainly dominating the headlines these days, perhaps it's “meaningful relationships” that should be the focus of independent radiology practices.

When Meadville Medical Center (MMC), Meadville, Pa., decided in 2013 to replace its legacy PACS, the 235-bed facility faced an issue common to community hospitals nationwide.

Stamford, Conn., May 12, 2014 (Booth #330-334)  – FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc., will present its comprehensive Synapse portfolio for IT professionals at the 2014 annual meeting of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) in Long Beach, California from May 15-17, 2014.  The Synapse family of products combined provides management of the complete patient record, ensuring diagnostic integrity while providing fast, secure access to clinical users via web platforms or mobile devices. 

Among the many different sessions presented at the Radiology Business Management Association Summit that was held last week in Charlotte, NC, an underlying theme was very apparent. The importance of building relationships was stressed time and again. From forging and maintaining relationships with fellow radiologists and radiology practices, to building relationships with hospitals, it was clear that productivity alone will not demonstrate value in the new healthcare environment. The way radiologists interact and relate to others is crucial when it comes to building a trusting, solid foundation for their practices. 

While 8 million people may have signed up for coverage under the health insurance exchanges (HIXs), the world is now watching to see how many of them pay their premiums under affordable care. The current uninsured rate is at its lowest in years, according to recent reports from Gallup, but industry experts indicate those numbers may fluctuate based on people’s continued ability to pay premiums. In an effort to offer consumers ample time to pay their insurance premiums under the new healthcare law, a provision was included to give them a 90-day grace period. While the grace period may be beneficial to consumers, it increases the financial risk and potential financial burden to healthcare providers. 

New data released this week indicate that even though the number of adults in the United States who lack health insurance has dropped to its lowest rate since 2008, the new health law still lacks consumer approval. A Gallup Poll released Monday, May 5, reported that the U.S. uninsured rate has fallen to 13 percent as of April, 2014, down from its peak of 18 percent in 2013. According to Gallup, the report captures the surge in late sign-ups that occurred in March.