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.

Should radiology groups share individual physicians’ productivity metrics?

Two members of the specialty attempted to answer this query, sharing dueling opinion pieces in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

September 15, 2023
ovaries ovarian cancer

Implementing structured radiology reporting via O-RADS boosts patient, referrer satisfaction

One key finding, experts noted, is that the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System had little impact on patients' ability to interpret reports. 

September 7, 2023
Money

Joint Commission’s Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation process called ‘costly, ineffective and potentially harmful’

Hospitals spent recurring labor costs per provider of about $50.20, extrapolated for a total national cost of roughly $78.54M, experts wrote in JACR

September 6, 2023

Introducing MRI into clinical practice helps reduce the rate of unnecessary prostate biopsies

“We argue that the results could be replicated elsewhere if guidelines are followed and the urologist and MRI radiologist are dedicated,” researchers noted. 

August 25, 2023
Cigna, one of the nation’s largest health insurance providers, announced new priorities for its capital deployment, including steering an additional $450 million into Cigna Ventures.

Cigna is removing 25% of medical services from prior authorization, but none of them are in imaging

The health insurer has faced criticism over its use of PA, including a class action lawsuit alleging it denied claims for imaging and other healthcare services in bulk

August 25, 2023
the words "FDA recall" on a board

FDA announces yet another recall, the fifth of 2023, for troubled heart devices

The latest Class I recall is due to mechanical issues that can cause the devices to stop charging their batteries. 

August 17, 2023
lung cancer screening

Unnecessary follow-up tests may be dissuading individuals from returning for future cancer screenings

Nearly 18% of patients receive follow-up imaging or invasive procedures despite negative findings on lung cancer screening CT. 

August 16, 2023
diagnostic accuracy

Radiologist accuracy takes a hit overnight, especially with advanced imaging exams

Serious discrepancies between preliminary imaging reads and final radiology reports are at risk of accumulating when the prelims are rendered during overnight hours. 

August 16, 2023