Vendor highlights from RBMA annual meeting
The following are highlights from various vendor booths exhibiting technology and programs targeted towards attendees of the Radiology Business Manager Association last week in St. Louis, Mo.
 
Agfa Healthcare highlighted integration and workflow benefits through the use of its Impax PACS 6.21, Impax RIS (including billing functions), and Talk Station speech recognition applications. The company’s Impax Mobile application can improve images and report distribution by sending them to handhelds of assorted kinds. The products can be bundled depending on facility wants and needs.
 

CodeRyte highlighted its CodeAssist evidence-based NLP (natural language process) application that is designed to increase accuracy of coding within medical specialties. The system is able to boost compliance and optimize reimbursement at facilities that use it, the company said, and can be an important part of compliance plans. Moreover, the application offers a higher level of consistency to make coders more efficient and effective.
 

DR Systems touted the functionality of its Unity RIS/PACS that offers web-based scheduling, document management capabilities, transcription functionality, output to billing systems or services, patient and exam tracking, and many other options.
 

GE Healthcare highlighted its price-per-procedure model for its Centricity RIS/PACS which the company has created to broaden access to its systems to the smaller hospital or imaging center market – facilities that might not otherwise be able to afford such a system. The PACS at the center of it all is the same, but the software, pricing, and packaging can be scaled down for such smaller facilities.
 
The RIS/PACS can be tied into the Centricity EMR/Revenue Cycle Management applications as well to create a system that helps manage workflow overall, from imaging, billing, and management.
 

Nighthawk Radiology Services detailed its coverage service for reconstruction, processing and interpretation of coronary CTA and triple rule-out CTA examinations.
 
The company also highlighted its proprietary workflow technology service, Talon, which features intelligent image distribution that routes images to, and creates work lists for, the appropriate doctor via a secure web connection. Talon can quickly integrate into an existing practice, limiting administrative work and enabling radiologists to better track the number and timing of studies to maintain and evaluate proper staffing levels.


NovaRad gave attendees the scoop about its NovaRIS, built to monitor quality, efficiency and profitability across an imaging enterprise. The system enables users to track patient information, procedures, exam status, revenues and insurance payouts, as well as generate reports based on CPT or revenue costs. The system also comes with alerts regarding potential problems including incomplete exams and coding errors. Integration with a RIS or HIS is possible with the system as well.


Virtual Radiologic discussed its cardiac CTA (computed tomography angiography) interpretation service as part of its overall teleradiology interpretations portfolio, built to either extend or create cardiac imaging at any facility. The company’s radiologists are available for emergent and non-emergent interpretations on a preliminary or final basis around-the-clock.
 

Zotec Solutions Inc. and Healthcare Management Partners (HMP) talked up their recent merger to create Zotec Partners. The joint company provides medical billing services and licensed software to hospital-based physician specialty practices across the United States. The merger combines HMP’s expertise in revenue cycle management with Zotec’s technology.
 
The company’s booth at RBMA was a “coming out party” of sorts, a company representative said, for the joint services and technology.
 
HMP contributes an experienced management team and board level members, as well as existing operations in the same physician specialty markets as Zotec. The merger provides the opportunity to leverage combined volumes and gain efficiencies in all aspects of the revenue cycle management process. Zotec Partners will utilize the technology to continue to produce a cost effective billing solution for their clients.
 
As a result of the merger, Zotec’s billing clients will gain increased professional management resources and expertise, while clients licensing the Zotec software will benefit from continued enhancement and focus on eliminating inefficiencies inherent in the constantly changing healthcare environment.
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