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.

Medicare money payment physician. The CardioVascular Coalition and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions have both issued new statements highlighting their issues with the 2024 MPFS proposed rule. 

Hospitals still facing financial struggles in 2023

Hospital margins were -1% in January 2023, compared to -0.7% in December 2022. 

 

February 28, 2023
interventional radiology philips

How effective is simulation training for interventional radiology procedures?

New survey data detail how simulation curriculum and training improves procedural competence among radiology residents, prompting some to suggest that it be routinely incorporated into IR residency. 

February 27, 2023
artificial intelligence AI deep learning ChatGPT OpenAI Microsoft Google

AI in healthcare? Many patients seem unimpressed

60% of U.S. adults would be uncomfortable if their healthcare provider relied on AI for their medical care.

February 24, 2023
0.55T MRI lumbar compared to 1.5T sequence #lumbarMRI #1.5T

Low-field MRI systems improve accessibility, but what kind of diagnostic quality do they offer?

Experts recently compared the use of a 0.55T low-field MRI system to a 1.5T system to determine whether the results rendered were within an acceptable diagnostic range.

February 24, 2023
Handshake

UnitedHealth Group closes $5.4B acquisition of LHC Group

UnitedHealth Group has closed its $5.4 billion acquisition of home health care giant LHC Group, the company confirmed in a new filing.

February 22, 2023
cardiologist doctor physician patient black diverse hypertension

Black patients more likely to experience dialysis graft failure, costly repercussions

When rads are forced to repeat such procedures within 30 days, patients can experience increased risk of death, alongside the added burden to the health system, experts wrote in Radiology.

February 21, 2023
The increased use of implantable loop recorders (ILRs) is associated with identifying more bradyarrhythmias such as bradycardia, according to new findings published in JAMA Cardiology.

Increased AFib screening improves bradyarrhythmia detection—but is it a mixed blessing?

When long-term continuous monitoring detects bradyarrhythmia in an asymptomatic patient, is it still providing value? 

February 21, 2023
older male patient and doctor

The evolution of care: 3 key takeaways from a new survey of cardiologists, health leaders and CVD patients

The report, developed by Abbott, examined everything from AI to social determinants of health. One key finding was that patients grade their overall satisfaction with a physician or hospital based on much more than the effectiveness of their treatment. 

February 21, 2023