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.

lung cancer screening

Unnecessary follow-up tests may be dissuading individuals from returning for future cancer screenings

Nearly 18% of patients receive follow-up imaging or invasive procedures despite negative findings on lung cancer screening CT. 

diagnostic accuracy

Radiologist accuracy takes a hit overnight, especially with advanced imaging exams

Serious discrepancies between preliminary imaging reads and final radiology reports are at risk of accumulating when the prelims are rendered during overnight hours. 

Thumbnail

FDA warns public not to use certain pregnancy tests due to safety, accuracy issues

The agency shared a list of 15 diagnostic tests that should not be used by patients going forward. 

Thumbnail

Experts advocate for more intensive head-and-neck cancer follow-up using FDG-PET/CT

Scientists believe this is the first series demonstrating a significant survival difference in patients monitored with an intensive follow-up strategy via 18F-fludeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography.  

breast cancer screening mammography

AI-based decision support tool can reduce unnecessary breast biopsies, save millions

Scientists at Houston Methodist Hospital developed the intelligent-augmented breast cancer risk calculator, testing it across a large dataset to produce promising results. 

Thumbnail

‘Unstoppable’ radiologist keeps practicing despite millions in fines, mounting investigations

James McGuckin, MD, most recently made the news in May when the DOJ filed suit against him and his affiliated practices. 

mammography mammogram breast cancer

Breast cancer overdiagnosis may be common among older women, study contends

The findings point to a "real need for better tools to identify which women may benefit from screening and which breast cancers are unlikely to be progressive." 

quality imaging appropriateness clinical decision support CAS AUC

ACR shares concerns about specialty’s ‘struggle’ to participate in alternative payment models

Barriers to radiologists’ success in MIPS include their ineligibility to earn maximum incentive adjustments, despite perfect performance.