Understanding—and Adapting to—Managed Care Strategies

December 01, 2008 | Strategic Planning

It is highly probable that many practices will see their current payor mix change to one in which 80% or more of net patient revenues will be based on negotiated payments,” according to Christopher J. Kalkhof, FACHE, director and national managed care lead, Provider Revenue Cycle Practice, Deloitte Consulting, New... Read More »

Buy, Sell, or Hold: Selling Your Diagnostic Imaging Business

October 16, 2008 | Reading Room

I was recently speaking with a client of mine who had spent about eight years growing his diagnostic imaging company. He had built up significant equity in the business and was concerned that capital gains rates may increase dramatically in 2009. In addition, he was eyeing some acquisition targets that... Read More »

A Formula for Budget-based Marketing

October 16, 2008 | RadBrand Builder

Not long ago, I sent a memo to a select group of clients informing them that as of January 9, 2009, pharmaceutical representatives would no longer be distributing the so-called dry goods. These are the branded premium items, such as pens and note pads, on which many offices have come to... Read More »

Consumer-driven Health Care: Dealing With the Impact on the Physician Revenue Cycle

September 16, 2008 | Revenue Track

The health care industry will be facing significant changes in the future, and a medical practice’s success is becoming increasingly linked to its revenue cycle. Reduced reimbursement from payors, along with changes in third-party reimbursement, has significantly affected how medical practices need to deal with the revenue cycle... Read More »

Contrarians at Heart: Riding the Bull Market in Imaging

July 15, 2008 | Deal Scan

Acquisitive firms have long been earmarked for challenges based on academic research predicting high failure rates for such companies. While valuation, timing, and culture all play critical roles in a deal, many successful companies rely heavily on acquisitions to achieve their strategic goals. Health Diagnostics, New York City, is... Read More »

The Logistics of PACS for the Practice

June 15, 2008 | Feature

Now that radiology practices have discovered the benefits of PACS, they are investing in the IT support to leverage the technology for its maximum potential

At one point during his enrollment in business school, Randy Hicks, MD, MBA was assigned a paper detailing how he might go... Read More »

Two Venerable Organizations Explore a Shared Future

June 15, 2008 | Newsmakers

With a dramatically increased need for professional education made necessary by maintenance of certificate requirements, the ACR and the ARRS are in talks to collaborate—and possibly merge

This is not the first time that radiology’s senior society, the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), has considered... Read More »

Using Metrics and Dashboards to Forecast Business

June 15, 2008 | Feature

Dashboard design is not a one-size-fits-all proposition, but a strategic tool to assemble and display data relevant to an organization’s key performance indicators

Data analysis and reporting are becoming critical components of monitoring operations and supporting the growth of businesses. Radiology practices and imaging sites are... Read More »

The Elements of a Feasibility Study

June 12, 2008 | A Better Mousetrap

The number of freestanding diagnostic imaging centers opening in the United States has slowed considerably as markets have become increasingly saturated and reimbursement has declined. That’s why, more than ever, it is important to consider carefully the feasibility of opening a new center. One way to weigh the... Read More »

Prognostications on the Future of the Business of Radiology

March 15, 2008 | The Bottom Line

The aftershocks of the reimbursement decreases from the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 are beginning to be seen. Combined with other marketplace events, this is leading to interesting times in the radiology business. Some of the forces of change that are creating the tremors are well known: reimbursement cuts, the... Read More »

The Coming Crisis in Radiologist - Hospital Relationships

December 15, 2007 | Think Tank

This is the time of year when visions of sugarplums are fresh in our heads from the RSNA, and we like to reminisce about days gone by when radiologists and hospitals were friends and worked together in harmony for the good of the patient and the well being of... Read More »

Strategic Imaging Center Technology Deployment

December 15, 2007 | Radiology Business Journal

In the technology-driven field of radiology, it is not just what is installed, but when, where, and why the technology is deployed, according to three experts interviewed by ImagingBiz.com. Many factors drive technology decisions, beginning with the existing competitive environment and inevitably arriving at the Deficit Reduction Act... Read More »

Sg2: Business Execution Key to Post-DRA Survival

October 15, 2007 | Legislative Report

After enlightening attendees about the new players in the outpatient imaging field, and educating them on where the growth potential exists, Michael Silver, PhD, read outpatient radiology the riot act in the concluding segment of his talk: “You have to know your market,” advised Silver, vice president, Sg2, the... Read More »

Consumer Driven Health Care: Challenges for Imaging Leaders

September 15, 2007 | Think Tank

Health care has become a serious problem. Health care costs are threatening the competitiveness of U.S. firms, and uneven health care quality is threatening the welfare of U.S. citizens. Last decade’s solution, managed care, is clearly a bust.

What to do?

Consumer-driven... Read More »

The Organization: Assess Management of Your Outpatient Center

August 15, 2007 | Legislative Report

In these Days of the DRA, imaging centers are keen to be lean. The question is, do you have your bases covered? In addition to strategies for cost savings and revenue enhancement, an imaging center with a need or desire to improve performance should review its organizational structure. Each... Read More »

Why What You Do Matters

August 15, 2007 | The Big Picture

Newt Gingrich understands the true issue facing imaging today. In fact, after hearing him speak recently about why diagnostic imaging got “mugged” by the DRA, I am convinced more than ever that our profession’s leadership needs focus, new ideas, and momentum. It is a theme that I have... Read More »

Inland Imaging’s 4-Part Strategic IT Deployment

July 15, 2007 | Radinformatics

In my 25 years of information technology (IT) management in four completely different industries (distribution, agricultural biotechnology, process manufacturing, and now health care), I have found that if IT is considered a strategic resource, rather than a pure cost-savings resource, the systems efforts will be more likely to succeed. Many... Read More »

Business Guru Weighs in on Radiology Leadership Issues

June 12, 2007 | Legislative Report

In an extensive interview to be featured in the April issue of Imaging Economics, Jim Collins, researcher, business guru, and author of the best-selling Good to Great, shed perspective on radiology’s current harsh climate and offered a glimpse of the focus of his next book, based on five... Read More »

Doshi Diagnostics Q & A: Strategy and the DRA

June 12, 2007 | Legislative Report

As the Deficit Reduction Act worked its way first through the machinery of the legislative process and then, later, through the millwork of implementation, imaging center operators around the country hoped they somehow might be able to scupper the part of the law affecting them before the DRA could... Read More »

Strategic Planning for Imaging Centers: Act with Plan in Hand

June 12, 2007 | Legislative Report

Imaging center success hinges on many factors, but without the volume to sustain the operation and power it toward profitability, failure is a given. Breakeven is the bare minimum any business operation must achieve to keep the doors open, yet some radiology groups and entrepreneurs in the imaging center... Read More »