Business Intelligence

Providers utilize business intelligence to monitor referral patterns and collaborate with clinicians who order their services. Such analytics tools have also been deployed in the specialty to improve productivity, track patient satisfaction and bolster quality.

The Loneliest Number

It has been said that the number one is the loneliest number, and it just may be that it is getting a whole lot lonelier. Illustrating this, the recently released 2007 Verispan Diagnostic Imaging Center Market Report features a section that depicts a dramatic change in the number of imaging centers describing themselves as being affiliated with

Even When Wrong, the Customer Is Always Right

As marketing assumes a more prominent role in the evolution of imaging centers, perhaps the most important part of the marketing mix is good, old-fashioned customer service. After all, the very nature of the specialty is such that it does not lend itself to radiologist-patient interaction, so these crucial human interactions are delegated to people

Radiology Coding and Compliance for 2008

Every year, radiology professionals who are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and compliance of coding and billing practices must do an internal assessment to ensure that their practices/organizations would withstand external scrutiny. In 2008, there continue to be many reimbursement, coding, and compliance challenges for radiology

Mark Kleinschmidt: Brokering a Shared Vision

When NightHawk Radiology, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, purchased the business infrastructure of St Paul Radiology in the summer of 2007, the entire industry took notice. In purchasing what is widely acknowledged to be one of radiology’s best business operations, NightHawk also acquired one of its strongest leaders in Mark Kleinschmidt, St Paul’s former

The 3D Imaging Lab:In-house or Outsource?

Staying abreast with (or, better yet, staying ahead of) the imaging-technology curve clearly follows a clinical imperative. Better imaging tools—in this case, 3D postprocessed reconstructions—have an immediate payoff for patient care. When a surgeon can use 3D imaging to measure and plan a vascular procedure better, for instance, the clinical

Does Size Matter?

The recent business news about Microsoft making a run at Yahoo has me ruminating about the deal-making climate in outpatient imaging and how the current trend toward strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions is changing the competitive landscape in many markets around the country. RadNet’s acquisition activity alone is driving consolidation

The Shifting Landscape of Cardiac CT Angiography Reimbursement

Many imaging providers have been wishing for changes in reimbursement policies for cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) for some time. Changes are about to be made, but those wishes may not be granted. In December 2007, CMS proposed major restrictions on coverage for CCTA that could take effect as early as March 2008. The conclusions that CMS discussed in

Marketing the OIC: Is It Time to Go Directly to Patients?

Across the nation, outpatient imaging centers (OICs) are looking for ways to protect what they have built and ways to grow. Protection strategies usually involve shoring up relationships with key referrers and ensuring that the practice brand is established and being supported in every department.