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.

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80,000 Americans died of the flu last year

A new estimate from the CDC puts the number of Americans who died of flu and complications at 80,000, the Associated Press reported. The figure was the highest death toll in at least 40 years.

Hospitals settle with HHS for $1M HIPAA violations for documentary filming

Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital have settled with HHS for compromising patient privacy by allowing crews to film an ABC television network documentary series without receiving authorization from patients.

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Second-opinion imaging consultations impact care for patients with HPB disease

Second-opinion imaging consultations can directly impact the management of patients with hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) disease, according to new research published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

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Less than half of imaging-related quality improvement projects use iterative cycles

New research published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology suggests less than half of quality improvement (QI) projects in radiology journals use iterative cycles to refine interventions.

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Microscope add-on could be a game-changer for 2D, 3D brain imaging

Researchers have developed an add-on for laser-scanning microscopes that can improve the quality of 2D and 3D imaging of the brain, according to a new study published in Optica.

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Cancer could kill nearly 10 million people in 2018

In 2018, cancer deaths will rise to 9.6 million worldwide, according to new data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

PSMA PET may lead to misdiagnosis, unnecessary changes in treatment

PET imaging is a common tool to establish the stage of a patient’s prostate cancer, but new research raises questions about its association with misdiagnosis and unnecessary changes in therapies. Benign tissues in the kidney, bowels and salivary glands may show increased prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression, prompting experts to caution against relying solely on PSMA PET.

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Researchers suggest improved patient care, not screening, responsible for drops in breast cancer mortality

Breast cancer mortality is on the decline, but can that drop be attributed to improved screening policies? According to the team behind a new study published in International Journal of Cancer, better treatment—not screening—is responsible for the shift.