This is the time of year when the Nobel prizes are handed out and that started me thinking about chaos theory and how the concept translates into our own profession’s mind-boggling array of alternative outcomes based on various approaches to the problems being presented, especially in today’s outpatient world. Competitive pressures, reimbursement

The PACS has come a long way since its inception, enabling communications among all imaging stakeholders in a hospital or health system. But what is the large radiology practice to do that works in a heterogeneous environment, with multiple information and dictation systems, and a centralized reading model?

A significant percentage of practice managers responding to a survey from the Radiology Business Management Association said radiologists would take a pay cut in 2007 if the DRA is not rolled back. The survey, DRA: How Is it Impacting Your Practice, conducted by LarsonAllen, Minneapolis, Minn, received 83 responses, 83.1% of which reported billing

What does it take to be a successful PACS administrator? As we work with clients across the country, we are commonly asked this question. The answer lies in both understanding the multiple roles this person is asked to play and the resources that will be available to support him or her.

As in many states, Massachusetts policy makers are examining the impact that ambulatory surgical centers and medical diagnostic imaging services, particularly physician owned, are having on the health care delivery system. Last year, the Massachusetts Legislature created a special study commission to examine these health services and their impact

After watching outpatient-imaging centers siphon away their often-lucrative outpatient imaging services, hospitals in growing numbers are moving aggressively into surrounding communities to establish outpatient imaging center beachheads. The trend began heating up five years ago, according to Craig Anderson, Sr, founder of Charis Healthcare LLC,

Health care has become a serious problem. Health care costs are threatening the competitiveness of U.S. firms, and uneven health care quality is threatening the welfare of U.S. citizens. Last decade’s solution, managed care, is clearly a bust.

Imaging will grow a respectable but relatively sedate 12% to 14% over the next 10 years, and the vast majority of that growth will occur in the outpatient sector, predicted Michael Silver, PhD, vice president, Sg2, Skokie, Ill, at the 2nd Annual GE Healthcare Outpatient Imaging Center Conference in Washington, a rate roughly one third of the