Quality

The focus of quality improvement in healthcare is to bolster performance and processes related to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Leaders in this space also ensure the proper selection of imaging exams and procedures, and monitor the safety of services, among other duties. Reimbursement programs such as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) utilize financial incentives to improve quality. This also includes setting and maintaining care quality initiatives, such as the requirements set by the Joint Commission.

Software glitch triggers FDA recall of nearly 2,000 GE SPECT and CT systems
According to the notification, the issue can cause the scanners to inadvertently move during imaging.
Health system spends nearly $7M on AI to boost prostate MRI performance
About 50% of cases are diagnosed early when treatment is most effective, with the hospital system hoping to reach 75% by 2028.
Shared decision-making visits significantly boost CT lung cancer screening adherence
SDM "is more than just a billing requirement—it’s a valuable opportunity to engage patients," says radiologist Farouk Dako, MD, MPH.
Medicare cost-cutting initiative targets ‘wasteful, inappropriate’ interventional radiology services
IRs criticized the CMS proposal, believing it could lead to excess morbidity and mortality in Medicare.
Radiology group cyberattack exposes private info of over 150,000 patients
The information exposed during the attack included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and service charges.

Medicare FFS improper payment rate falls

The improper payment rate in Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) fell to its lowest rate since 2010, according to CMS. However, there were still an estimated $28.9 billion in improper payments made in 2019, down $7 billion from 2017.

Radiologists have helped significantly decrease patients’ radiation dosages over the past decade, new report finds

During the decade that ended in 2016, interventional and diagnostic medical radiation dose use has plummeted 15% to 20%, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements reported on Nov. 18.

Antibiotic-resistant infections, deaths are up

The threat of antibiotic-resistant infections are on the rise, with more than 2.8 million occurring in the U.S. each year and more than 35,000 deaths, according to the CDC.

Nurses face more pressures than ever

Nurses aren’t able to spend the time needed with patients and more often are faced with workplace challenges including violence, according to a new survey from AMN Healthcare.

34M Americans know someone who died because they couldn’t afford healthcare

A shocking number of Americans know someone, either a friend or family member, in the past five years who died because they couldn’t afford to receive necessary medical treatment, according to a new Gallup and West Health study.

Researchers urge nonradiologists to stay in their lane when interpreting advanced imaging studies

Nonradiologists are still interpreting thousands of tests, presenting the quandary of whether policy changes are needed to help preserve patient safety and continuity of care, experts note.

Vaping more harmful to heart health than regular cigarettes

E-cigarette use, or vaping, could be more harmful to heart health than traditional cigarettes.

Radiologist developing new hybrid PET and CT imaging tool to better characterize diseases

A UC Davis Health researcher has scored a $628,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to help develop and test a new method of imaging.

Quality

Software glitch triggers FDA recall of nearly 2,000 GE SPECT and CT systems

Health system spends nearly $7M on AI to boost prostate MRI performance

Shared decision-making visits significantly boost CT lung cancer screening adherence

Medicare cost-cutting initiative targets ‘wasteful, inappropriate’ interventional radiology services

Radiology group cyberattack exposes private info of over 150,000 patients