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.

The best children’s heart hospitals in the US
The annual list is based on resources, services provided, outcomes data and survey responses from thousands of physicians. Did your facility make the cut?
AI algorithm effectively repurposes CT scans to screen for 2 key chronic diseases
Experts are hopeful that routine CT scans could serve the dual purpose of screening patients for both osteoporosis and heart disease.
Impella heart pump provides value during high-risk PCI, meta-analysis confirms
Using an Impella heart pump during high-risk PCI was linked to a reduced short-term mortality rate and an acceptable safety profile.
Hundreds of MRI units affected by FDA Class 1 recall
Failure to address these issues could "cause serious adverse health consequences or death," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently warned providers.
Google's Gemini answers patients' IR questions with greater accuracy, more empathy than providers
Some of today’s large language models may be more effective communicators than providers when it comes to explaining interventional radiology procedures.

The increased use of implantable loop recorders (ILRs) is associated with identifying more bradyarrhythmias such as bradycardia, according to new findings published in JAMA Cardiology.

Increased AFib screening improves bradyarrhythmia detection—but is it a mixed blessing?

When long-term continuous monitoring detects bradyarrhythmia in an asymptomatic patient, is it still providing value?

The evolution of care: 3 key takeaways from a new survey of cardiologists, health leaders and CVD patients

The report, developed by Abbott, examined everything from AI to social determinants of health. One key finding was that patients grade their overall satisfaction with a physician or hospital based on much more than the effectiveness of their treatment.

A team of cardiologists from Cleveland Clinic and Stanford University recently tested ChatGPT, the popular artificial intelligence (AI) model, to see if it could accurately answer questions about preventive cardiology and cardiovascular disease. The model performed well, only missing a handful of questions, and the researchers concluded that ChatGPT showed considerable potential. Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Ashish Sarraju, MD, was the lead author of that study. #ChartGPT

ChatGPT and cardiology: A close look at the strengths and weaknesses of AI chatbots

Ashish Sarraju, MD, a cardiologist with Cleveland Clinic, discussed his recent research on ChatGPT, its potential to change patient care and more.

7 steps to ‘new era of personalized medicine’ by way of radiomic analysis

Quantifiable features of medical images such as pixel intensity, arrangement, color and texture—in a word, radiomics—can help radiologists improve diagnostic accuracy.

Targeting ‘super referrers’ a promising strategy for quashing low-value imaging

Less than 1% of referrers accounted for 10% of exam orders that defy Choosing Wisely recommendations, according to a new analysis of imaging data.

Internal surgery patients with infectious complications shown not to benefit by extra CT

Thoracic CT is safely and wisely omitted from diagnostic protocols for ICU patients who have signs of infection after abdominopelvic surgery but were already imaged with abdominal CT.

Homegrown tracking boosts follow-up imaging for incidental findings of uncertain gravity

A structured program to track incidental findings on body CT has significantly boosted rates of clinician follow-up as well as timely patient adherence to radiologist recommendations for next exams.

Sectra reinforces top standing among PACS suppliers recognized by KLAS; Fujifilm stays strong with VNA

Healthcare research outfit KLAS is out with its 2023 Best in KLAS awards recognizing excellence in healthcare software and services, and the Sweden-based imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra tops the field of U.S. PACS vendors—again.

Quality

The best children’s heart hospitals in the US

AI algorithm effectively repurposes CT scans to screen for 2 key chronic diseases

Impella heart pump provides value during high-risk PCI, meta-analysis confirms

Hundreds of MRI units affected by FDA Class 1 recall

Google's Gemini answers patients' IR questions with greater accuracy, more empathy than providers