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.

Experts warn hospitals about the perils of outsourcing radiology services

Demand for faster imaging interpretation has propelled an uptick in outsourcing, with half of radiologists reportedly reading scans offsite.

Quashing patients’ misconceptions about radiology while they’re parked in the waiting room

Some patients have little understanding about the role of the radiologist or how it differs from the technologist, but Belgian providers are educating consumers with a simple intervention.

Out-of-pocket costs climbing for imaging services after mammography, despite ACA safeguards

Radiologists are concerned this trend could force women to skip crucial follow-up services such as MRI, ultrasound and breast biopsy.

Radiologists lead team effort to improve lung cancer screening among patients with serious mental illness

This population has struggled against America’s No. 1 cancer killer, experiencing significant disparities and a higher mortality rate than the general population

One-third of ED visits for ministroke include redundant brain imaging, costing $8.7M in a single year

There is limited diagnostic value in using CT to examine the brain of patients suffering a transient ischemic attack, with MRI favored for initial assessment.

85% of radiologists’ head and neck cancer misses are ‘failure to see’ errors

The majority of misses were detected incidentally (67.6%) on imaging exams not performed for a primary head and neck indication, according to a new study in Clinical Radiology.

Female physicians order more imaging than men, produce lower mortality rates

That's according to a new cross-sectional study incorporating nearly 172,000 treated across several hospitals, published in JAMA Health Forum.

Hospital apologizes after erroneous cancer diagnosis left woman without right breast for 9 months

Hospital leaders labeled the error as a "serious incident," with an investigation finding that the original provider failed to seek a second opinion.

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