2010 July

Some five dozen health information exchange (HIE) initiatives have cropped up across the nation enabling clinicians to share critical patient information with other caregivers in a timely fashion to allow swift, more-informed care. Currently, the sharing of medical images and radiology reports is very limited through HIEs, but forward-thinking clinicians and IT leaders are working to make seamless image sharing a radiological reality.

In today's climate of diminishing reimbursement and the continuous battle to hold onto referrals and contracts, radiology practices are focused on providing superior radiology services and being fiscally fit. While there are many reasons why a radiology practice especially those offering outpatient imaging services can falter, practices that are thriving are carefully blending a combination of politics, patient research and preparation for the long-haul.

Clinical studies have proven that screening for certain cancers and heart disease saves lives. But questions linger. Will those screened derive any mortality benefit? If so, how great is it? What is the cost relative to gains, relative to treatment costs? This month were drilling down into CT screening, for lung cancer, colorectal cancer and coronary artery disease. There are still more questions than answers, but studies are underway.