Radiology management company American Imaging Management (AIM), in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, has launched an echocardiography management program, leveraging evidence-based medicine in order to reduce variability in how these services are used by physicians, according to AIM.

The American College of Cardiology, along with several other organizations, has developed appropriateness criteria supporting consistent use of echocardiography services for the benefit of physicians and patients, as AIM noted that cardiac service use in 33 states shows “clear and unexplainable variability in how these services are used by physicians.

"Delivering efficient and effective clinical review based on current appropriateness criteria and literature will reduce variability and bring practice standards closer to evidence-based medicine," said Chicago-based AIM.