KNOWLEDGE CENTER
May 14th, 2018
Accelerating the shift from volume to value with a virtual radiology archive
The future of medicine is all about putting the patient front and center in the clinical experience — and radiology is leading the way.
According to a 2017 Advisory Board survey, three of the top five concerns of hospital executives — managing overutilization, uncovering innovative approaches to expense reduction and improving ambulatory access — all are directly related to the healthcare industry’s rapid transition away from the old institutional-based models of care.[1]
Radiology, in particular, is at the epicenter of this switchover to patient-centric care. In the past, imaging was driven by institutional control over patients, which limited an individual’s ability to receive treatment at different hospitals and health systems without undergoing additional imaging or testing. In recent decades, this siloed approach to information sharing led to skyrocketing medical costs — and perhaps unnecessary patient exposure to dangerous radiation.
A Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging study found that between 2000-05 alone, imaging spending in the United States increased from $6.6 billion to $13.7 billion, outpacing all other physician-related fee-schedule payments by double.[2] The study also found that “20%–50% of high-tech imaging such as multisection computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) fail to provide information that improves patients’ welfare and hence may represent unnecessary imaging services.”
“That there is immense waste in U.S. healthcare spending is inarguable,” the researchers concluded in the study. “Solving the problem of excess spending involves creating system-wide incentives that encourage partnership and networks that aim for shared value.”
In radiology, delivering value requires a team approach, continual innovation and an evolved patient focus. This shift from volume to value means radiology practices must be able to access a patient’s complete medical history, which includes referencing real-time as well as past studies. This approach is more efficient, accurate and effective — whether it’s in the emergency department or a physician’s office. It also reduces costs and radiation exposure.
But how does it work?
The virtual patient archive: Putting patients first in radiology
Cutting-edge technology provides the necessary infrastructure platform for building a patient-centered imaging network. This virtual patient archive allows imaging to move seamlessly from one health system to another, reducing overutilization, lowering costs and freeing up radiologists and referring physicians from cumbersome legwork that delays care and hinders efficiency. Pioneered by Riverside Radiology and Interventional Associates, this new model means patient imaging histories can be accessed by their medical teams regardless of the location. We have placed all of this information at the touch of a button. Through our referring physician portal, we are allowing our radiologists to engage deeply in the overall patient care continuum. In addition, our RadAssist platform delivers best-in-class workflow management, deconstructed PACs and zero footprint viewers.
Since 2008, RadAssist has provided a unified view of over 500,000 patients from over 25 different hospitals throughout Ohio.
Interested in learning more? Let’s talk. As one of the largest providers of radiology services in the Midwest, we deliver a fully integrated and unified solution that includes workflow, clinical processes and a broad spectrum of physician support services with industry-leading operational performance:
We have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, as well as compliance with its national standards for healthcare quality and safety in ambulatory care organizations.
For more information, contact Tim Borcherding at tborcherding@riversiderad.com or call (614) 361-3900.
[1]https://www.advisory.com/research/health-care-advisory-board/blogs/at-the-helm/2017/04/hcab-topic-poll
[2]https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmri.23530