Influenced by emerging technology and regulatory changes, the role of the radiology-group CIO has undergone a dramatic shift in recent years: Wayne Davidson, CIO of Quantum Imaging & Therapeutic Associates, Inc (Lewisberry, Pennsylvania), a 40-radiologist practice, says, “In recent years, the focus has really become efficiency because of background factors like declining reimbursement. That drives the business to try to do more with less, and that goal is laid on the shoulders of the IT department.

Quantum Imaging & Therapeutic Associates, Inc, a 40-radiologist practice in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, faced a problem common to radiology groups in the post-DRA era: improving efficiency without decreasing the quality of its interpretations. Elizabeth Bergey, MD, CEO of the group, says, “Radiologist efficiency and efficacy are based, somewhat, on internal factors. Everybody has his or her own personal work ethic, and in any population, there will be some variation.

The topic of efficiency in radiology is both politically and emotionally charged. Improvements in radiologists’ productivity are increasingly critical to financial viability, but cannot be achieved at the expense of clinical quality, especially at a time when quality will be increasingly closely linked to reimbursement. Further, any radiology group that begins tracking (or even providing incentives for) efficiency risks an uphill battle, in terms of changing the culture of its business.

Although Medicare spending is shielded from the largest across-the-board mandated cuts known as the the sequester, the cuts will still total $11.1 billion for fiscal 2013

The founders of the Atlanta-based medical billing and practice management company credit MMP’s core value of partnership with clients as the underpinning for the company’s two decades of growth

The NEJM research and findings by the journal Cancer that 12,000 lives alone might be saved using more conservative criteria supports advocates' arguments for expanding testing criteria and payor coverage

Last September, Merge Healthcare asked an investment banking firm to solicit offers for the company, but its CEO said last week that it is no longer looking for a buyer

Toronto-based RamSoft's PowerServer Cloud Canada will offer imaging centers and hospitals a secure PIPEDA-compliant cloud-based RIS/PACS that it says will be more affordable because it will not require a major IT investment in onsite servers and can be launched in a matter of weeks