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.

Emergency head CT use has more than doubled over last decade
A new analysis suggests approximately 1 out of every 10 patients presenting to the ED will complete a head CT during their visit.
MRI patients willing to commute farther for clinics that use low-dose GBCAs
Data suggest most patients in need of contrast-enhanced MR imaging would prefer lower dose alternatives. Some are willing to go well out of their way to achieve that.
Telix says new kidney cancer imaging agent alters treatment plans for 50% of patients
The positive findings come after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously shared concerns related to sterility assurance issues during the drug’s production.
Siemens Healthineers issues correction for MRI systems affected by recent Class 1 recall
On Aug. 28, Siemens alerted customers about safety issues with nine different scanners from its Magnetom series of MRI offerings.
New data highlight 'systemic inconsistencies' in documentation of contrast reactions
Although uncommon and typically not life-threatening, hypersensitivity reactions have increased in recent decades alongside the significant rise in CT use.

Skyrocketing use of emergency brain imaging is out of step with overall ED trends

The findings raise questions about imaging overutilization, Emory University radiology experts wrote in JACR.

Radiologists make significantly more mistakes on the night shift than they do during the day

Errors increased during the back-half of the late shift compared to the earlier portion, Mayo Clinic imaging experts reported in Radiology.

Diagnostic imaging serves no purpose in assessing breast pain, internal medicine docs stress

In a recent JAMA editorial, three UT Southwestern Medical Center internists implored their peers to shelve this low-value practice.

Mask study finds one style actually increases transmission risk

Among 14 common types of protective face mask is one that may do more harm than good.

Some sleepers arise in rankings of top (and bottom) states for healthcare

It’s no shock to find Massachusetts and Minnesota topping the states as the best in which to receive high-quality healthcare with good access and reasonable out-of-pocket prices. But look which state leads the way in getting at-risk adults to the doctor for routine visits.

Bolstering breast imaging recall letter readability significantly improves timely patient follow-up

That’s according to a new retrospective study out of Johns Hopkins, published in JACR.

U.S. News shuffles the deck with 2020 ‘Best Hospitals’ package

The honor roll, which recognizes 20 hospitals that excel in numerous care concentrations, is only part of a “Best Hospitals” package the publication has retooled for this, the year of the pandemic.

How one hospital radiology department dropped CT procedure turnaround time by 78%

Emory Healthcare used Lean Six Sigma methods to dramatically improve its processes, experts detailed in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology.

Quality

Emergency head CT use has more than doubled over last decade

MRI patients willing to commute farther for clinics that use low-dose GBCAs

Telix says new kidney cancer imaging agent alters treatment plans for 50% of patients

Siemens Healthineers issues correction for MRI systems affected by recent Class 1 recall

New data highlight 'systemic inconsistencies' in documentation of contrast reactions