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.

FDA commissioner, a veteran cardiologist, highlights ongoing issues with US healthcare system
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, talked to Cardiovascular Business about healthcare spending, inconsistent patient outcomes and much more.
FDA commissioner urges health systems to strengthen AI quality oversight
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, explains the need for hospitals to perform quality assurance checks on clinical artificial intelligence to ensure these technologies don't "drift" from what was originally cleared by the FDA.
Clinical decision support significantly reduces use of CT for pulmonary embolism
Across 340,000 hospital admissions, there was a 7.4% decrease in CTPA use after referrers started consulting CDS, experts write in JACR.
AI prevents mammography positioning errors before exposure
And it can spot positioning errors in less than two seconds, new research suggests.
Frequent AI use may increase radiologists’ risk of burnout
The problem is particularly pronounced among members of the specialty who already have a high workload or are skeptical of artificial intelligence.

Deploying radiologists as ‘human clinical decision support’ to quash inappropriate imaging

Yale New Haven Hospital recently tested out this workflow change, adding a button in its EHR that allows physicians to suggest changes to CT or MRI requests.

January 17, 2020

Physician burnout has improved over the last 5 years

A lower percentage of physicians reported they were burned out in a recent survey compared to five years ago.

January 16, 2020

Maserati-driving doctor found guilty in $325M healthcare fraud scheme

The physician operated in South Texas and San Antonio, traveling across his various offices via his private jet and Maserati.

January 16, 2020

Fast drug approvals based on weaker science

New drugs are being approved by the FDA at a faster clip, but the science behind them is weakening, according to a study published in JAMA. That means more drugs are available, but questions remain if they are effective.

January 15, 2020

American College of Radiology releases new imaging appropriateness criteria

The Jan. 13 update includes one new topic—child cerebrovascular disease—along with seven revisions.

January 13, 2020

Justice Department recovers $3B in false claims

The Department of Justice has recouped more than $3 billion in 2019 from settlements and judgements from false claims and fraud. Of these cases, $2.6 billion came from the healthcare industry.

January 10, 2020

Radiologists must fight ‘disturbing’ efforts to limit positive oral contrast use in CT

The University of Wisconsin’s Perry Pickhardt, MD, made his pitch in a new analysis, published Jan. 8 in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

January 9, 2020

Nursing is the most trusted profession in the US

Americans continued to rank nurses highest for honesty and ethics among a list of professions for the 18th year in a row in 2019, according to a recent Gallup poll.

January 9, 2020

Quality

FDA commissioner, a veteran cardiologist, highlights ongoing issues with US healthcare system

FDA commissioner urges health systems to strengthen AI quality oversight

Clinical decision support significantly reduces use of CT for pulmonary embolism

AI prevents mammography positioning errors before exposure

Frequent AI use may increase radiologists’ risk of burnout