Contrast Coverage Texas’ Post

Dave Fornell's Radiology Business article highlights the dual challenges of radiologist shortages and the RVU payment system's inadequacies, emphasizing the industry's bandwidth constraints. These issues resonate with our mission at Covera Health, where we recognize the problematic nature of radiology's commoditization through volume-based metrics, which can overshadow its vital role in patient care and contribute to radiologist burnout and quality compromises. We advocate for a paradigm shift towards value-based care in radiology, emphasizing accurate diagnoses to enhance patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary healthcare expenditures. While acknowledging the potential of AI and technology to address some challenges, we stress that a more profound systemic change is needed to truly enhance radiology's impact on patient care. Our approach involves partnering with healthcare stakeholders to promote a model that rewards the quality and accuracy of radiologic interpretations over sheer volume. This shift represents not just a solution to current challenges but also a step towards a more patient-centric healthcare system. At Covera Health, we're committed to leading this transformation, believing that focusing on value over volume can relieve radiologist pressures and foster a healthcare environment that prioritizes patient well-being. #Radiology #PatientOutcomes #ValueBasedCare

🚨 Urgent Alert for Radiologists: The American College of Radiology (ACR) is taking a stand against CMS's proposed mandatory payment model for specialists in ambulatory care. ACR believes this rushed approach could have serious implications for patient care and radiology practices. Key points from the ACR response to CMS: ▶️ Strongly disagree with making participation mandatory ▶️ The proposed 3-5 year implementation timeframe is too short ▶️ Extensive testing and a significant on-ramp period are crucial ▶️ Special consideration is needed for non-patient-facing specialties like diagnostic radiology While ACR supports efforts to improve care coordination and value-based care, ACR cannot endorse a mandatory model without proper evaluation and preparation. American College of Radiology CEO, Dr. Dana Smetherman, states: "The radiology profession prioritizes accurate imaging interpretation combined with concise evidence-based recommendations... Beyond the communication of diagnostic information, radiologist collaboration as part of the care team in the coordination of care is critical to achieving the best patient outcomes." ACR is committed to working with CMS to develop a model that truly benefits patients and respects the vital role of radiology in healthcare. Join ACR in advocating for a more measured approach. Share your thoughts and use #SlowDownCMS to amplify this message. Ensure that any new payment model supports quality care and the sustainability of radiology practices. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gf9E-fRj #ACR #Radiology #HealthcarePolicy #ValueBasedCare #SlowDownCMS

🔍 The Power of Double-Reading in Radiology 🔍 In the ever-evolving field of radiology, accuracy and precision are paramount. One of the most effective practices to enhance diagnostic accuracy is double-reading. This process involves having two radiologists independently review the same imaging study, providing numerous benefits for both patients and healthcare providers. 📚 Why Double-Reading? *Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy: Double-reading significantly reduces the risk of diagnostic errors. By having two sets of expert eyes examine the same images, discrepancies can be identified and resolved, leading to more accurate diagnoses. *Increased Confidence: Double-reading instills greater confidence in the diagnostic conclusions. When two radiologists concur on a finding, it reinforces the reliability of the diagnosis and the subsequent treatment plan. 💡 The Impact on Patient Care *Early Detection: Enhanced accuracy through double-reading can lead to earlier detection of conditions, which is often critical for successful treatment outcomes. *Reduced Uncertainty: Patients benefit from reduced uncertainty and anxiety when diagnoses are confirmed by multiple experts. This collaborative approach ensures that patients receive the best possible care. Double-reading is a testament to radiologists' commitment to providing the highest level of care. It underscores the importance of collaboration, continuous improvement, and unwavering dedication to patient health. #Radiology #DoubleReading #MedicalImaging #DiagnosticAccuracy #PatientCare #HealthcareInnovation #QualityAssurance

📜 A white paper from Medicus Healthcare Solutions highlights a trend of replacing nursing and physician staff with non-clinical roles due to radiologist shortages. Despite these challenges, the solution should not compromise patient safety. Our AI solution, ChestLink, not only delivers efficiency savings through reporting automation but also enhances accuracy, reducing missed findings. Let's prioritize both efficiency and patient care. Read the full white paper:  https://lnkd.in/eXpSuhtp    #PatientSafety #AIinHealthcare #Radiology #Innovation #Oxipit 

Do you know about the BSIR Exemplar Process, an initiative to enhance the quality and accessibility of Interventional Radiology (IR) services across the UK. 🔍 Key Features: A UK-wide network of IR sites dedicated to sharing improvements in IR services. Supported by BSIR, The Royal College of Radiologists, National Imaging Board, and DoH Improvement Directorate. Active involvement from NHS England in commissioning IR services. 📈 The Exemplar Process: Focuses on continuous improvement in quality and access to IR services. Involves self-assessment in key domains: scope of services, quality care, patient focus, and service improvement. This initiative represents a commitment to excellence in IR, ensuring the highest standards of care for patients. Learn more about how we're advancing IR services: https://lnkd.in/eC3S9Grz #BSIR #QualityImprovement #InterventionalRadiology #HealthcareExcellence

Great examples of how quality control efforts can dramatically enhance radiology department efficiency. As presented by Eatrice Hinton at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Ashima Lall on behalf of Main Line Health at last year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting, initiatives to reduce STAT exam prioritisation and MRI report turnaround times led to faster discharges, cost savings, and improved inpatient care.    Many of these challenges could be further alleviated by AI-driven solutions, which can streamline workflows, automate prioritisation, and enhance efficiency—taking radiology departments to the next level of performance.     Read more from Cynthia E Keen at Healthcare in Europe:  https://lnkd.in/eQuiug59    #Radiology #HealthcareInnovation #QualityImprovement #RSNA 

Done right…scale and resources add enormous value to the healthcare system. Read about how our clinical value team, under the leadership of Krishna Nallamshetty, MD, FACR and many other talented physician leaders is enhancing the value of our services to our client partners and patients and sharing our learnings with the rest of our specialty. #radpartners #transformingradiology

An entire radiology staff suspended over a 2% error margin (24 of 1000 exams). As a radiologist, I would be happy to boast that number. This is not only terrible for my colleagues involved, it should shake us all. Consider the precedent. Is this what we want? A zero mistake culture? Or should we focus on patient care, intention to treat and continuous learning? #radiology

Diagnostic imaging plays a pivotal role in patient care. However, radiology has been facing large provider shortages. In a recent blog post, LocumTenens.com analyzes these shortages and discusses potential solutions, learn more by reading here. https://bit.ly/3uHG0dX #LocumTenens #KnowBetterExperience #Radiology

Until #interventionalradiology is recognised as a distinct specialty in Australia, patients will continue to have restricted #access to pinhole treatments. We are all trying to negotiate the glass ceiling above us but there is a widespread issue of suboptimal allocation of resources and inherent government restrictions because everyone thinks we are just "reporting scans". GPs and patients don't even know who we are or what we can do. The solution is top-down: specialty recognition, just like in the USA, Canada, Portugal, Japan, and the list goes on... Let's see what #irad can do: - Life saving treatments to stop bleeding in hospital patients or after motor vehicle accidents - Life saving treatments to solve sepsis in unwell hospital patients and outpatients - Limb-saving treatments for blocked arteries in the leg - Pinhole treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding that avoid hysterectomy - Pinhole treatments for lower urinary symptoms in men that avoid large prostate operations - Pinhole treatments to cure some types of cancer - Pinhole treatments to give chemotherapy directly into the centre of a cancer ...all this through an invisible hole and with lower cost than many open surgical alternatives. And yet, on many occasions patients still haven't heard of us or been given an option to see an IR - because on paper and with the government we don't (yet) exist! To me, there is immense value for patients, hospitals, and the wider healthcare system. Wouldn't you want a high-value IR department in your hospital? Well done to The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), Hannah Ireland, Justin Whitley for the advocacy video and all medical practitioners should support the cause. It could be you on our operating table one day!