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.

Common methods for attributing cardiac care in ACOs may be falling short
As the United States continues to move toward quality-based care, ACOs need to rethink the way they attribute care to cardiologists and other members of the heart team.
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.

Independent radiologists, who bill separately for imaging, muddying hospital price transparency efforts

Reimbursement for such practitioners is often nontrivial and could create a substantial financial burden for patients who don't expect to receive additional bills, experts wrote in JAMA.

Common causes of ‘emotional harm’ adverse events in the radiology department

Investigations of this phenomenon in the specialty are lacking and likely underreported, experts detailed in Radiology.

Primary care docs order fewer imaging exams when seeing patients via video or phone

That according to a new large-scale analysis from Kaiser Permanente, published in JAMA Network Open.

CMS’ oncology alternative payment model reduced utilization of imaging services in Medicare

The alternative payment model was associated with modest changes, including about 46 fewer imaging services used per 1,000 care episodes, experts wrote in JAMA.

Mammography screening rates low among transgender and nonbinary patients. 2 possible fixes

Gendering of anatomy is one screening barrier, with terms such as "breasts" often discomforting for certain patients, experts wrote recently.

Pandemic provides priority-setting opportunity to scrutinize low-value imaging, experts say

After COVID-related disruptions let up last year, the use of certain exams did not return at the same rate as prior to 2020, according to new data.

American College of Radiology unveils new imaging appropriateness criteria

ACR recently updated its influential quality guidelines, including five fresh topics and eight revisions to previously released updates.

Large Medicare study explores common predictors of low-value imaging among hospital systems

Those with a lower share of primary care docs or no teaching hospital are more likely to deliver wasteful care, according to an analysis of 11M patients treated at 556 hospital systems.

Quality

Common methods for attributing cardiac care in ACOs may be falling short

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