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.

Refined decision aid proves fruitful for patients with kidney masses

Complex renal cysts or solid renal masses appear in 13% to 27% of individuals who receive abdominal imaging.

Ischemic stroke CT scan showing color coded blood flow for early and later arterial and venous contrast phases and areas of blocked blood flow. Image courtesy of RSNA

4 pressing ‘unknowns’ about sex, gender differences in stroke care, outcomes: American Heart/Stroke Associations

Because cerebral vessels are smaller and potentially more fragile in women than in men, future research into mechanical clot removal for stroke treatment should be “sufficiently powered to detect sex-specific differences in neuroimaging profiles and treatment techniques.”

U.S. News & World Report children’s hospitals cardiology heart surgery

The top 10 children’s hospitals for cardiology and heart surgery

The 2022-2023 rankings include some familiar names at the top. Did your facility make the cut? 

Many clinicians flouting X-ray-first guidelines for ankle imaging

Established clinical guidelines hold that patients presenting with ankle issues should not receive advanced imaging ahead of standard radiography. New research shows a substantial proportion of ordering clinicians sending these patients straight to MRI anyway.

Top 10 best children’s hospitals in the U.S.

Boston Children’s Hospital topped the charts as the best children’s hospital in the nation, according to a new ranking from U.S. News and World Report.

neck ultrasound thyroid

AI reads of neck ultrasounds could displace thyroid biopsies

Upon training a machine learning model to analyze ultrasound images of the neck, researchers tested their algorithm and have found it correctly flagged likely cancerous nodules of the thyroid gland at a 97% clip.

HHS launches $1M competition for primary care innovation

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a competition to find new innovations in patient access to primary care––with a total of $1 million in prizes attached.

neck ultrasound thyroid

Ultrasound-embeddable AI sharp at diagnosing clogged carotid arteries

Testing AI’s ability to detect carotid artery disease on ultrasound, U.K. researchers have found their algorithm achieved 90% accuracy, along with 87% sensitivity and 82% specificity, at the task.