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.

Which LLM is best for explaining radiology results?
With patients gaining access to imaging reports earlier than ever, it's critical they have access to large language models that can accurately summarize the results.
Mammography services suspended at 2 hospitals following ACR review
A news release indicates the suspensions are due to breast images not meeting the college's clinical quality standards.
Significant variability found in pediatric CT imaging interpretations
Such discordance between pediatric and general radiologists could result in care delays and treatment changes.
Medicare releases guidance on new model targeting ‘wasteful’ radiology procedures
CMS explains how IR specialists can submit prior authorization requests to the federal payment program for seniors, including what evidence is required.
Beyond just nodules—model uses all low-dose CT data to make long-term lung cancer risk predictions
New findings published in RSNA's Radiology highlight the shortcomings of using nodule characteristics and patient history alone to predict an individual’s true cancer risk.

Joint Commission’s Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation process called ‘costly, ineffective and potentially harmful’

Hospitals spent recurring labor costs per provider of about $50.20, extrapolated for a total national cost of roughly $78.54M, experts wrote in JACR.

Introducing MRI into clinical practice helps reduce the rate of unnecessary prostate biopsies

“We argue that the results could be replicated elsewhere if guidelines are followed and the urologist and MRI radiologist are dedicated,” researchers noted.

Cigna is removing 25% of medical services from prior authorization, but none of them are in imaging

The health insurer has faced criticism over its use of PA, including a class action lawsuit alleging it denied claims for imaging and other healthcare services in bulk

FDA announces yet another recall, the fifth of 2023, for troubled heart devices

The latest Class I recall is due to mechanical issues that can cause the devices to stop charging their batteries.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Quality

Which LLM is best for explaining radiology results?

Mammography services suspended at 2 hospitals following ACR review

Significant variability found in pediatric CT imaging interpretations

Medicare releases guidance on new model targeting ‘wasteful’ radiology procedures

Beyond just nodules—model uses all low-dose CT data to make long-term lung cancer risk predictions