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.

Radiologists demand greater transparency from CMS in Merit-Based Incentive Payment System

Docs are “particularly concerned” that the dearth of data could be concealing issues with cost measures or benchmarks, 45 physician groups including the ACR wrote recently.

domestic abuse violence woman women's health

Forearm fractures present unique opportunity for radiologists to help break cycle of domestic violence

Up to one-third of adult women treated for isolated ulnar fractures may be victims of such abuse, Boston researchers wrote in JACR.

ACR revokes mammography facility’s accreditation after ignored records request

The FDA is alerting patients who have received breast imaging services from Tennessee Women’s Care amid concerns about its safety practices.

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

Radiologist preferences driving significant cost variability in common imaging-guided procedures

Stanford scientists believe the data underline the need to educate rads about standardization to help curb costs and deliver value.

Cheaper imaging-guided alternative used far less frequently than hysterectomy for postpartum bleeding

Women who had their uterus removed via this method paid $18,000 more in hospital charges when compared to uterine artery embolization, rads found.

Assimilating a general radiology practice into a highly specialized academic imaging department

Communication, transparency and data were all key components of the effort, experts detailed in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology.

Targeting a new quality challenge in radiology: CT repeat rates within the same examination

University of Wisconsin–Madison physicists recently investigated this topic, analyzing repeat rates across nearly 104,000 exams performed at several institutions.

breast radiologist breast cancer mammography

ACR slams JAMA mammography study, editorial over ‘outrageous and insulting’ claims

Content published in the noted journal accused breast imaging providers of operating based on financial incentives, rather than patients' needs.

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