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.

Quality of care for heart patients does not improve in first year of ACO participation
Researchers tracked patient outcomes through the use of 15 performance measures related to hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.
American Heart Association program leads to substantial improvements in stroke care
Cardiologist Gregg Fonarow, MD, reviewed decades of data and discussed the long-term impact of the AHA's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program.
AHA still working to find more patients with severe aortic stenosis who may require care
The initiative is designed to help identify more patients who may require aortic valve replacement. Brian Lindman, MD, provided an update on the project's efforts.
Imaging experts question validity of new CMS quality measure aimed at reducing CT radiation exposure
The American Association of Physicists in Medicine recently convened a panel of industry experts, devising a list of issues with the new quality metric.
Most stock photos fail to accurately portray the work of radiologists
Only about 9% of images examined presented a “realistic view of a radiologist’s job," according to new research out of Belgium.

Radiologists who choose radiology primarily for the lifestyle are less satisfied

Most radiologists decide to pursue the specialty during medical school—particularly during their clinical years. But those who opt for radiology based on its financial benefits over intellectual stimulation are ultimately less satisfied in their careers, according to a report in Clinical Problems in Diagnostic Radiology.

ACR celebrates 10-year anniversary of National Radiology Data Registry

The American College of Radiology (ACR) announced this week it is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its National Radiology Data Registry (NRDR).

In a world where half of medical tweets are inaccurate, could Twitter be radiology’s saving grace?

Twitter holds the potential to disseminate bite-sized snippets of medical information to a diverse audience with little effort, but radiologists aren’t using the micro-blogging platform to its full capacity, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

NC hospital reviewing 9,200 cases after lab mistakes wrongly diagnosed cancer

After at least 10 patients received improper diagnoses owed to pathology lab errors, Winston Salem, N.C.-based Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has been reviewing 9,291 cases ahead of a June deadline set by CMS that could strip its Medicare certification.

Micro CT, photography combine for high-quality digitization of plants, insects

Combining micro-computed tomography (CT) with a photographic approach could improve accuracy and specificity when digitizing natural objects, Japanese researchers have found.

Joint Commission proposes new pain management standards

Critical access hospitals, ambulatory care and office-based surgical practices would be subject to new requirements for pain assessment and management under proposals released by the Joint Commission, with safe prescribing of opioids needing to be an “organizational priority” in all three settings.

3 ways radiologists can provide transgender patients with compassionate care

Transgender patients often face unique challenges when accessing healthcare such as stigmatization and discrimination. A new analysis published in the American Journal of Roentgenology addressed what imaging leaders and radiologists can do to prevent this from happening and provide compassionate care.

FDA clears Canon’s ‘ultra-high resolution’ CT system

Tustin, California-based Canon Medical Systems USA announced April 9 that it’s new Aquilion Precision ultra-high-resolution CT system has been cleared by the FDA. According to the company release, the system can improve resolution of traditional CT exams, being able to resolve anatomy as small as 150 microns.

Quality

Quality of care for heart patients does not improve in first year of ACO participation

American Heart Association program leads to substantial improvements in stroke care

AHA still working to find more patients with severe aortic stenosis who may require care

Imaging experts question validity of new CMS quality measure aimed at reducing CT radiation exposure

Most stock photos fail to accurately portray the work of radiologists