Imaging Technology News - November/December 2008 - (Page 47)

Feature DECISION SUPPORT Now Available ITN Digital Edition Go to ITNonline.net for your FREE subscription to ITN Digital - a $120 value! Hurry, limited time offer. Imaging Technology News magazine is now available in an easy-to-navigate digital version delivered directly to your eMail in-box. Filled with all the great content you find in the print edition, ITN Digital quickly downloads to your desktop in crisp, clear pages formatted for optimum viewing. So whether you’re viewing the digital version of ITN magazine on your laptop, reading ITN magazine in print, or surfing ITNonline.net, Imaging Technology News is available whenever, wherever and however you choose. Imaging Technology News — Delivering Formats to Fit Your Lifestyle. ITNonline.net ITNonline.net | Nov/Dec 2008 | ITN | 47 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Imaging Technology News 16 E. Schaumburg Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60194-3536 PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PONTIAC, IL PERMIT NO. 267 Yet, the association reiterated in its policy that “[we] actively oppose efforts by private payers, hospitals, Congress, state legislatures and the Administration to impose policies designed to control utilization and costs of medical services unless those policies can be proven to achieve cost savings and improve quality while not curtailing appropriate growth and without compromising patient access or quality of care.” Similarly, the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) is concerned about the affects of imaging payment reductions – as much as $1.64 billion in 2007 due to the Siemens is working in cooperation with MAASTRO, one of Europe’s leading cancer treatment sites, to develop REMIND, a personalized Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) – approach to cancer treatment. on patient access to noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic treatInsurers have thus far managed to build ments. As a means of deterring further reimappropriateness criteria approval into physi- bursement cuts, the alliance therefore supports cian payment withholds. “The payers definite- the adoption of appropriateness criteria for ly impact the providers and hospital deci- screening imaging exam orders. The American sions. Reimbursement with payers is always College of Radiology also supports using approfinancially driven. There is always a financial priateness criteria as guidance as to which aspect,” noted Chang. “With the pay-for-per- scans are most appropriate for a given indicaformance issues coming out, there is a lot of tion at the time of order entry. regulatory compliance. They are also driving In a recently issued public statement, clinical decision support as a whole. Payers do MITA said it agrees with Congress’ decision have a role to play, and they do have a lot of to focus on appropriateness and accreditation power.” criteria. Adding, “It is these approaches, While appropriateness criteria benefits rather than payment cuts for imaging scans, physicians and patients alike on one level, that will ensure patients get the right scan at requiring physicians to get approval for an the right time and that healthcare decisions imaging exam usurps the authority of the clini- remain between physicians and patients.” cian and puts it in the hands of the insurance companies. In addition, there is a tendency Not Yet Imagined With appropriateness criteria in full swing, among doctors to take the path of least resistother decision support solutions will also ance, and some suggest that rather than dealing with this bureaucratic hassle of getting become part of the radiology toolkit. According to Chang, the next generation of approval for a scan, doctors will send the tools will include EMRs with more advanced patient to the emergency room, where prior authorization isn’t needed before imaging features, which “will definitely grow in the studies. Paradoxically, this would increase next few years,” she said. healthcare costs and worsen ER overcrowdHealthcare decision support tools will also ing. move toward treating patients on the diagnostic side. “Eventually, it will move toward Medical Community’s Stance more patient-centric tools. So it will not just In a referendum held in May of this year by be the doctor using these tools but also the the American Medical Association (AMA), the patient,” said Chang. With symptom checkers association said it acknowledges the rising already available, Chang suggests that the cost of imaging exams, yet defended the utili- trend will be for patients to acquire informaty of medical imaging in patient care when tion on how to treat themselves before they deemed appropriate according to established can actually see a doctor. guidelines. Chang added, “The market is so new that The AMA said, “advanced medical imag- in a few years we will have technologies that ing services, such as CT, MRI and PET, have we don’t know about right now.” ITN significantly increased in this decade, raising legitimate concerns over utilization rates.”1 Reference: 1. American Medical Association House of Accordingly, the association said it encourages Delegates, Resolution: 208 (A-08); May 7, 2008. “the in-office utilization, medical direction (http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:r34WvvbJBUkJ:www.amaand supervision of advanced imaging services assn.org/ama1/pub/ upload/mm/471/208revised.doc+radiology+ by qualified or certified physicians whose uti- business+management+appropriateness+ lization of these modalities is within the scope criteria&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us) of their specialty practice in accordance with appropriateness guidelines.” Decision Support continued from page 45 For More Information www.acr.org www.ama-assn.org www.massgeneral.org www.medicalimaging.org www.medical.philips.com www.usa.siemens.com/medical July/August 2008 Volume 48 • Number 6 Imaging Technol og y N E W S The Technology Solutions Resource for Medical Imaging & Radiation Oncology Professionals www.ITNonline.net ISSUE Can IMRT Outpace the Competition? Portable Ultrasound To Go INSIDE this Adaptable CT Scanner Offers Whole Organ Functional Imaging Siemens Medical Solutions gained FDA 510(k) market clearance for the SOMATOM Definition AS, said to be the first adaptive CT scanner, adapting to each patient’s clinical situation, available in 40-slice, 64-slice and 128-slice configurations. The new system reportedly provides a benefit with the Adaptive Dose Shield technology, eliminating unnecessary over radiation. The Adaptive 4D Spiral mode of the SOMATOM Definition AS is able to address functional imaging (perfusion images of blood flow over time) of whole organs. This allows Siemens to offer dynamic information of up to 27 centimeters. In the case of a stroke, physicians can use whole-organ perfusion imaging not only for a small part of the brain but for all of it. Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc. www.usa.siemens.com/medical Comparison Charts SPECT/CT High-Field MRI Systems Web Exclusive: Multimodality Breast Imaging Workstations New Verification System Expedites Patient, File Tracking CIVCO Medical Solutions will be featuring the new RFSuite of tools at the AAPM 2008, a comprehensive tracking and verification system designed to improve workflow and quality assurance. It utilizes RF technologies yielding the ability to track patients, charts, film folders and positioning devices as well as facilitating accessory verification on the linac table. The tracking software, known as RFTrack, allows for the ability to quickly locate specific RF tagged items, in order to save time. Patients are checked into the system by an issued customized wristRFSuite continued on page 13 > > special report DC-3 Color Ultrasound Gains FDA Clearance The FDA cleared Mindray’s DC-3 color ultrasound imaging system, equipped with extensive applications in abdominal, OB/GYN, endovaginal, cardiac, small parts and pediatric markets. This new system combines 2D imaging and color Doppler performance and is suited for hospitals and doctors’ offices in hopes of replacing black and white ultrasound imaging systems. Mindray Medical International Ltd. www.mindray.com Women’s Health: Beating Breast Cancer with Better Treatments Women’s healthcare is a renaissance for tomosynthesis - which radiologists anticipate will be used to detect and treat breast cancer. Breast MRI plays an increasingly important role in pretreatment planning, and radiosurgery sharpens its edges for more precise breast biopsy procedures. Plus, learn which oncology information management systems (OIMS) best streamline RT workflow. FDA Clears Fuji’s CR GO Portable X-Ray The FDA cleared Fuji’s newest CR system, the FCR GO portable digital X-ray system, designed to provide remote users with all of the same functionality and image processing features available at the fixed technologist workstation and FCR digital X-ray cassette reader in the imaging department. All of the image optimization and advanced image processing features of Fuji’s Flash IIP are available at the portable console, allowing for comprehensive image adjustment to be completed remotely, and images can be sent directly to PACS without additional intervention at another workstation. Because the system accommodates wireless FCR GO continued on page 35 > > INSIDE Detecting Breast Disease: The Next Frontier for Tomosynthesis > p.25 BMRI Plots Out Treatments > p.26 RT PACS Streamlines Workflow > p.28 Look for us at the American Healthcare Radiology Administrators (AHRA) July 27-31, 2008 Denver, CO http://www.acr.org http://www.ama-assn.org http://www.massgeneral.org http://www.medicalimaging.org http://www.medical.philips.com http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical http://new.reillycomm.com/imaging/subscribe.php http://www.ITNonline.net http://www.usa.siemens.com/medical http://www.mindray.com http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:r34WvvbJBUkJ:www.amaassn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/471/208revised.doc radiology business management appropriateness criteria&bl=en&ct=cInk&cd=8&gl=us http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:r34WvvbJBUkJ:www.amaassn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/471/208revised.doc radiology business management appropriateness criteria&bl=en&ct=cInk&cd=8&gl=us http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:r34WvvbJBUkJ:www.amaassn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/471/208revised.doc radiology business management appropriateness criteria&bl=en&ct=cInk&cd=8&gl=us http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:r34WvvbJBUkJ:www.amaassn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/471/208revised.doc radiology business management appropriateness criteria&bl=en&ct=cInk&cd=8&gl=us http://www.ITNonline.net

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Image Technology News - November 2008

Image Technology News - November 2008 Contents RSNA CT Systems Imaging An Image is Worth a Thousand Words Ultrasound Systems MBI Takes on FFDM Trouble in Multi-PACS Paradise When is Appropriateness Criteria Appropriate? RIS/PACS in a Web 2.0 World Digital Mammography Helps Center Continue its Commitment to the Best in Patient-Focused Breast Cancer Cardiovascular Imaging Systems PARCA Extends Expertise to World PACS Market

Image Technology News - November 2008

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