Health Imaging, AHRA and Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) are seeking to recognize five practices with a $1,000 cash award for Best Practices in Radiology Quality and Economics.

The award, sponsored by Toshiba America Medical Systems, honors radiology practices, groups or departments for their work in using imaging in a meaningful way to improve quality of care and patient outcomes, increase efficiency across the department or facility, reduce costs and drive lasting economic benefits.

Nominations for 2011 awards are due Nov. 15. Examples of eligible projects include programs that:

• Increase staff efficiency by introducing or utilizing automation;
• Use best practices to reduce patient wait times, hospital admissions or hospital stays;
• Develop new workflows that create more efficient and cost-effective business processes; or
• Define better ways for radiologists to educate and collaborate with referring physicians in clinical decision-making.

The winners will be selected by a panel of radiology administrators and business managers from AHRA and RBMA and the Health Imaging editorial staff. Awards will be announced at a joint AHRA-RBMA event at the RSNA 2011 in Chicago. Each winning nomination will receive a $1,000 award and be featured in the January 2012 issue of Health Imaging.

For more information and a nomination form, click here.