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.

Emergency head CT use has more than doubled over last decade
A new analysis suggests approximately 1 out of every 10 patients presenting to the ED will complete a head CT during their visit.
MRI patients willing to commute farther for clinics that use low-dose GBCAs
Data suggest most patients in need of contrast-enhanced MR imaging would prefer lower dose alternatives. Some are willing to go well out of their way to achieve that.
Telix says new kidney cancer imaging agent alters treatment plans for 50% of patients
The positive findings come after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously shared concerns related to sterility assurance issues during the drug’s production.
Siemens Healthineers issues correction for MRI systems affected by recent Class 1 recall
On Aug. 28, Siemens alerted customers about safety issues with nine different scanners from its Magnetom series of MRI offerings.
New data highlight 'systemic inconsistencies' in documentation of contrast reactions
Although uncommon and typically not life-threatening, hypersensitivity reactions have increased in recent decades alongside the significant rise in CT use.

New training tool shows promise in improving radiologist performance

A training program being used in Australia and New Zealand has been shown to help radiologists and radiology trainees interpret mammograms, according to a new study published in Academic Radiology.

Weekly Watchdog: Convictions in $20M healthcare fraud scheme

Catch up on all things fraud and ethics in the healthcare industry with HealthExec’s weekly watchdog report.

DBT associated with higher detection rates, lower recall rates among all age groups

Breast cancer screening with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) improves breast cancer detection and leads to fewer false-positive recalls, according to new research published in JAMA Oncology.

Imaging agent catches acute venous thromboembolism missed by other methods

When diagnosing acute venous thromboembolism (VTE)—a disease that includes deep-vein thrombosis of the leg or pelvis and its complication, pulmonary embolism—PET/CT imaging with a 18F-GP1 radiotracer performed with a higher detection rate than conventional imaging, according to research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Healthcare companies make most ethical list

Several healthcare companies have made it onto the Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list for 2019.

CMS: All Children’s Hospital failures were widespread

A CMS report found the problems at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, were more extensive than the pediatric heart unit, The Tampa Bay Times reported.

Is there a learning curve associated with interpreting DBT exams?

Exploring the performance of more than 100 radiologists, researchers found “no evidence of a learning curve” for clinically interpreting digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) examinations.

Physician burnout varies by specialty

Burnout among physicians improved slightly over the last few years, but not all specialties have seen much of a difference, according to data published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Quality

Emergency head CT use has more than doubled over last decade

MRI patients willing to commute farther for clinics that use low-dose GBCAs

Telix says new kidney cancer imaging agent alters treatment plans for 50% of patients

Siemens Healthineers issues correction for MRI systems affected by recent Class 1 recall

New data highlight 'systemic inconsistencies' in documentation of contrast reactions