Business
Strategies for Accommodating Self-pay Patients
As the ranks of the uninsured continue to grow, it is increasingly important for radiology practices to implement strategies for dealing with self-pay patients.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, January 18, 2010Asset Management for Imaging Reduces Waste
Scarce capital, these days, poses a serious threat to imaging enterprises hoping to see even modest growth.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, December 22, 2009Building Bridges
A strong physician referral base requires meticulous planning and follow-through
Radiology Business Journal, December 01, 2009Managing the Revenue Cycle
In revenue-cycle management for the practice, imaging center, and radiology department, success is achieved through the relentless and ongoing pursuit of defined metrics, with all hands on deck
Radiology Business Journal, December 01, 2009RSNA 2009: A Finger on the Pulse and An Eye to the Future
Attendees at this year’s meeting can look forward to perennial-favorite sessions designed to keep radiologists on the cutting edge of their specialty, as well as some new features added to broaden the gathering’s scope
Radiology Business Journal, December 01, 2009Why Design Matters in Imaging
It’s design that can make patients choose one imaging provider over another, according to Morris A. Stein, FAIA, FACHA.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, October 14, 2009Restructuring the Balance Sheet
If you are anything like me, you have had a few sleepless nights worrying about the future of the health-services industry.
Radiology Business Journal, October 01, 2009The Impact of 320 Detector Rows: Aquilion ONE in the Pediatric Setting
The 320-detector CT scanner, recently implemented at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, has minimized dose requirements, reduced the need for sedation, and opened the door for future research
Radiology Business Journal, October 01, 2009Finding Benchmarks for Imaging’s Operating Costs
The operational management of medical imaging is obviously a significant expense, yet it has rarely been studied. In 1999, 55% of imaging costs were spent on compensation.¹
Radiology Business Journal, October 01, 2009DR Done the Right Way
If service, patient safety, and profit weren’t incentives enough, now hospitals and imaging clinics have another inducement to go digital: the Obama administration’s federal health care stimulus plan, which stresses health care IT and electronic medical records.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, September 10, 2009Training Technologists to Smile
In many imaging offices, the reception staff is coached and scripted, and its members might even engage in role-playing exercises in order to create the best experience for patients.
Radiology Business Journal, September 09, 2009Iterative Reconstruction: Ready for Its Close-up?
Enhanced image clarity, less noise, and half the radiation exposure for patients: sound good?
ImagingBiz Newsletter, August 17, 2009Taking Advantage of the Radiology Audit
A radiology provider should look at an audit as a strategic opportunity
ImagingBiz Newsletter, August 17, 2009Developing Innovative Customer-service Initiatives
It could be the smiling greeter who welcomes patients into the facility, or the glasses of lemon water and the tray of cookies keeping them company in the waiting room.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, August 17, 2009Accessing Capital in a Tight Credit Market
After weathering last fall’s fiscal catastrophe, many hospital CFOs now find themselves in Bert Zimmerli’s position.
Medical Imaging Review, July 26, 2009Trademarking and Copyrighting: The Beginner’s Guide
An established health care consulting practice had been in business for several years.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, July 15, 2009The Hard Copier’s Dilemma
Along London’s celebrated avenue of high-end medical care, Harley Street, it’s not uncommon to see sights that would make any hardened veteran of the US health care system green with envy.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, July 15, 2009RBMA Attendees Debate Outsourced Billing
It is a question often pondered by practice managers and others overseeing the financial aspects of an imaging enterprise:
ImagingBiz Newsletter, July 15, 2009Emergence of Consumerism in Imaging
Hurried along by economic hard times, consumerism is making an impact on diagnostic imaging choices, and savvy practices are responding
Radiology Business Journal, July 01, 2009Shared Services: A Strategy to Reduce Costs Without Compromising Patient Care
Do you remember medical imaging before PACS? There were images stored in different ways, in different places, at different times; images were lost, and images sat in stacks, waiting to be filed.
Radiology Business Journal, July 01, 2009Beware the Zone of Indifference
In a span of one month in late 2008, the following four incidents were reported.
Radiology Business Journal, July 01, 2009Maximizing MRI Throughput With Efficient Scheduling
As little as one extra MRI per day can generate more than an additional $200,000 in incremental revenue annually, but most imaging centers use crude scheduling systems that do not accurately present a center’s potential throughput.
Radiology Business Journal, July 01, 2009Dealing With Health Plans Costs Physicians Billions
Two studies¹,² published in May 2009 in Health Affairs have drawn attention to the administrative costs that physicians endure in dealing with health plans.
Radiology Business Journal, July 01, 2009Accreditation and Radiology
Accreditation is important to radiology providers not only in ensuring reimbursement eligibility and protecting turf
ImagingBiz Newsletter, June 15, 2009Managing Errors in Demographic/Clinical Information: Using Tracking Mechanisms
All insurance accounts fall into one of two groups: full resolution (at negotiated fees, where the credits only consist of cash, contract adjustment, and probable bad debt, if any patient balance cannot be collected) or full write-off (where the practice did not comply with a payor-based rule).
ImagingBiz Newsletter, June 15, 2009Radiology’s Tough Love
Last month, I discussed the need (and demand) for a culture and ethos of customer service within medical imaging practices, departments, and centers.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, June 15, 2009Opening Minds to Open MRI
How do you acquire the high–field-strength open MRI unit of your dreams in a tough economy?
ImagingBiz Newsletter, May 15, 2009Place Your Bets
Do you think that for-profit freestanding outpatient imaging is a phenomenon destined to go the way of Tyrannosaurus rex?
ImagingBiz Newsletter, May 15, 2009Back to the Future
In the publisher’s message for the inaugural issue of a new magazine.
Radiology Business Journal, May 01, 2009Imaging JVs: Strategic Partners or Just One More Competitor?
Hospital-radiology group JVs are key to preserving and growing imaging market share, but failure to cement strong relationships and expectations from the start is a prescription for failure
Radiology Business Journal, May 01, 2009The High Price of Low Payment
Prepare for sharp increases in diagnostic imaging costs if CMS prices practices and entrepreneurs out of the imaging center business
Radiology Business Journal, May 01, 2009A Case Inquiry:Can RFID Help Reduce Costs in Medical Imaging?
An exploration of the use of RFID technology to manage contrast inventory in the hospital setting identified potential cost savings, as well as implications for patient safety, inventory management, and billing
Radiology Business Journal, May 01, 2009Smart Marketing in a Sick Economy
A recent statement from Moody’s Investors Service, New York, indicates that the health care sector in the United States.
Radiology Business Journal, May 01, 2009Managing by Benchmarks: Making the Case for Accountability
Benchmarks enable managers to gain knowledge of their organizations and build a culture of accountability
Radiology Business Journal, May 01, 2009Good Vibrations: Ultrasound Elastography
In February, France’s state-operated agency for the funding of innovation awarded a research-and-development grant worth 8.5 million euros to a European company that wants to validate a new application clinically for the still-nascent modality of ultrasound elastography.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, March 15, 2009The Weakening Economy and Health Care Collections
One of the overlooked consequences of the current economic uncertainty is the effect on health care collections.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, March 15, 2009RSNA 2008: Mining the Landscape, Assessing the Exhibits
In assessing the imaging technologies on display at RSNA, an observer provides tools for making critical decisions regarding your capital budget for 2009
Radiology Business Journal, March 01, 2009Highly Functional Imaging
Great leadership will distinguish winning imaging organizations from those that struggle
Radiology Business Journal, March 01, 2009CCTA Staffing and Coverage
Radiology practices and departments that intend to offer coronary CT angiography (CCTA) need to consider how the additional exam volume and time commitments created by CCTA studies will affect their operations and their staffing models.
Radiology Business Journal, March 01, 2009The Sales-continuum Approach to Marketing ROI
In today’s challenging business environment, not many people would buy into the philosophy, in operating an imaging center, that if you build it, they will come.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, February 15, 2009The Purchasing Paradox
There is so much breadth and depth to today’s imaging marketplace that many radiology centers find themselves struggling to make sense of it all.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, February 15, 2009A First-to-market Approach in Charleston
Imaging Specialists of Charleston opened its doors at a time when most imaging centers were looking for ways to cut costs-and the South Carolina center took an aggressive first-to-market approach.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, February 15, 2009Reform’s Caveat Emptor
In 2009, we find ourselves in more than just another new year.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, January 15, 2009Due Diligence in Vendor Selection: Laying the Groundwork for a Strong Relationship
The first installment in this series described the process of evaluating your current vendor relationships to determine which of your concerns are not being met.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, January 15, 2009Advisory Opinion Muddies the Waters on Preauthorization
After reviewing a proposed arrangement pursuant to which a company would handle the processing and submission of insurance preauthorizations for various imaging services for the benefit of multiple imaging centers.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, January 15, 2009Using Adjustment Coding to Manage Practice Compliance
The October 2008 ImagingBiz.com article Keep Payors Honest With the Practice Receivable System concentrated on advanced techniques for monitoring the insurance companies that compensate radiologists for their clinical services.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, January 15, 2009Top 10 Control Items for Managing Practice Financials
You have, no doubt, heard the story about the quiet, loyal employee with many years of service to the business who one day sends his boss a postcard from Rio de Janiero, saying that he’s not coming back.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, December 15, 2008Bread Lines and Cab Lines
I’ll admit it. The constant drumbeat of depressing news in the business and popular press about the downturn in the world economy had me spooked as I traveled to the RSNA last week.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, December 15, 2008Changing Vendors: Costly Mistake or Wise Move?
Vendor relationships can be tough, and many end in a heap of disappointments, unfulfilled expectations, and miscommunications.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, December 15, 2008The Ultimate Road Trip
Just in time, radiology providers are arriving at an understanding of their unique branding propositions.
Radiology Business Journal, December 01, 2008On the Good Ship RBJ
What a year—what a breathless, heart-stopping, devastating, and hopeful year this has been for just about everyone I know, including all of us here at The Imaging Center Institute, publisher of Radiology Business Journal.
Radiology Business Journal, December 01, 2008The Excellence Formula
Radiology group practices can take the following seven steps to transform their practice models into something much closer to the ideal.
Radiology Business Journal, December 01, 2008Historical Review of Mergers and Acquisitions in Diagnostic Imaging
From the go-go years to the present, acquisition strategies in the outpatient diagnostic imaging field have not always worked
Radiology Business Journal, December 01, 2008ICD-10 Mandate to Break Physicians’ Bank
The typical 10-physician practice will spend $285,240 to comply the new federal mandate to adopt the ICD-10 code set by 2011.
Radinformatics, November 15, 2008The Usual Suspects
As I read the cover story on radiology benefit managers (RBMs) in this month’s Diagnostic Imaging (DI) magazine.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, November 15, 2008Retail Metrics: Opportunity Knocks Every Time the Threshold Darkens
When a customer walks in the door, Mark Schulein sees opportunities.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, November 15, 2008Negotiating for Better Reimbursement
Negotiating higher reimbursement is nearly always possible, according to Penny Noyes, president and CEO, Health Business Navigators, Bowling Green, Ky.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, November 15, 2008Keep Payors Honest With the Practice Receivable System
It is not a completely fair analogy, but the differing agendas of payors and providers place receivable processing in something of a battle zone.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, October 15, 2008Imaging’s Déjá-vu Moment
My conversation with a prominent radiologist was startling, even as it piqued my journalistic interest.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, October 15, 2008ACR Unveils a Modular MRI Accreditation Process
The ACR is set to launch a new modular MRI accreditation program designed to meet the specific practice patterns of individual facilities.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, October 15, 2008Increasing CT Productivity: Good for Patients, Referring Physicians, and the Bottom Line
CT has become indispensable tool for physicians to use in diagnosing and managing a vast array of medical conditions.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, September 15, 2008ICD-10 Deadline Brings on IT Headaches
No sooner did CMS call for an October 1, 2011, compliance date for the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes than a hue and cry arose from the health care industry, claiming that the change comes too soon.
Radinformatics, September 15, 2008Magical Thinking Obscures the Goal: Improved Outcomes
High hopes have been pinned on the potential of IT to improve health care delivery here and around the world.
Radinformatics, September 15, 2008Radiologist, Find Your Voice
In a major front-page story, “The High Cost of Precision,” in its Sunday, September 7, 2008 edition, the Los Angeles Times once again focused on the negative side of CT technology.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, September 15, 2008Florida Hold’em
In the show down between Florida Hospital and Florida Radiology Associates, the winner took all
Radiology Business Journal, September 01, 2008The New Economics of Contrast
Not too long ago, prices for contrast media could get a radiology director’s pulse racing.
Radiology Business Journal, September 01, 2008Physicians and the E Word
Physicians are understandably suspicious of efficiency efforts in medicine, but nowhere in the Hippocratic oath are they absolved from addressing the appropriate delivery of care
Radiology Business Journal, September 01, 2008The Good, the Bad, and the Inspired
Finally, some good news for imaging.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, August 15, 2008Financial Adventures in Imaging, Post DRA
It’s been a year and a half since the debut of the DRA imaging cuts, and the dust is beginning to settle in the outpatient imaging market, according to Douglas Lynch.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, August 15, 2008Collecting Self-pay Balances: Cash Is King
You cannot pick up a newspaper today without reading about the 47 million uninsured US residents. Well, that is only the tip of the iceberg.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, August 15, 2008Operating Radiology As an Individual Business Unit
Both hospitals and imaging centers are struggling with economic and political pressures that are straining their relationships with staff; finance (administration/owners); radiologists; vendors (IT providers, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and consultants); referring physicians; and the community (your patients).
ImagingBiz Newsletter, July 15, 2008What’s With the Attitude?
At least half of the elements of various success formulas, in business and in life, relate to one’s ability to keep a positive outlook—especially when circumstances make it most difficult to do so.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, July 15, 2008In Search of Web-site Optimization
In 1998, Jakob Nielsen, PhD, hailed by the New York Times as the guru of Web-page usability, wrote, “The Web is simply not that suited for advertising.”¹
Radiology Business Journal, June 15, 2008Do Market Opportunities Remain in Outpatient Imaging?
In the post-Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) era, many current and would-be imaging providers are left with the same fundamental and related questions.
Radiology Business Journal, June 15, 2008Game Plan for New Leaders
IN THE FEBRUARY 2008 ISSUE OF THE Harvard Business Review, Gott fredson et al1 look at the role of the incoming CEO or general manager.
Radiology Business Journal, June 15, 2008What’s the Deal? A Look at Current Recruiting Packages in Radiology
As most markets are, the job market for physicians is fluid and is subject to shifts that can be either gradual or abrupt.
Radiology Business Journal, June 15, 2008Growing Old Together
A lesson in business maturity: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer met the company’s cofounder Bill Gates when they were both undergraduates at Harvard.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, June 12, 2008Contract Negotiations: Not Just About the Dollars
Contract negotiations with payors formerly were a lengthy process. Not any more; they are concluded now in half the time because payors have stopped telling radiology groups to take it or leave it and, instead, are simply saying, “Take it.”
ImagingBiz Newsletter, June 12, 2008Solved: A Consistent and Simple DR/CR Interface
Hospitals trying to send both CR and DR images to PACS, especially for the same patient, have encountered multiple problems in the past.
Radinformatics, May 15, 2008To Read or Not to Read
As Shakespeare’s famous Prince of Denmark did, many radiologists I know struggle with choosing between two mutually exclusive paths to fulfillment.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, May 15, 2008Chris Winkle: Taking MedQuest In-House
Last August, the news that Novant Health, Inc, Winston-Salem, NC, had offered $45 million (with an additional performance-based contingency of $35 million and the assumption of all outstanding debt) for Alpharetta, Ga-based MedQuest set the outpatient imaging world abuzz.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, May 15, 2008Proper Coding Delivers Big Results
Correct procedure coding is a primary, and pivotal, activity among providers and payors alike.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, May 15, 2008Creating a Smart—and Grand—Opening
Opening a new imaging center, or planning a grand reopening, involves details far beyond the technology and construction concerns, the most important of which may be the center’s marketing plan.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, April 15, 2008Determining Your Market’s True Potential
In imaging today, volume is the name of the game: The only way to maintain your practice’s financial viability is to keep your volume above a certain level.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, April 15, 2008The Politics of Greed
It has been said that all we need to focus on, in the daily battle for market share in the rough-and-tumble world of outpatient imaging, is a practice’s unique value proposition.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, April 15, 2008Stronger Financial Statements Earn Better Financing Options
Obtaining the most favorable financing depends on having the kinds of financial statements that lenders want to see.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, April 15, 2008Benchmarking the Cost of Processing Charges: Is Your Cost Too High?
Radiology practices create the largest number of new accounts per month of any specialty within a health care delivery system.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, April 15, 2008Positioning the Practice’s Feet on the Street
Investments in technology and in continuing education are extremely important, to be sure.
Radiology Business Journal, March 15, 200820 Years in the Making
It was 20 years ago, almost to the day, that I created and launched the first issue of Imaging Economics, a publication that its editor, Cheryl Proval, and I subsequently built into a substantive magazine focused on the broad economic issues facing a then-transforming profession.
Radiology Business Journal, March 15, 2008Heeding the Clarion Call
Like a POW on rice and water eating his first rib eye, an editor of a certain age finds no greater pleasure than getting her hands on 60-pound–paper stock after spending a year in the ether of electronic media.
Radiology Business Journal, March 15, 2008The Loneliest Number
It has been said that the number one is the loneliest number, and it just may be that it is getting a whole lot lonelier.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, March 15, 2008Even When Wrong, the Customer Is Always Right
As marketing assumes a more prominent role in the evolution of imaging centers, perhaps the most important part of the marketing mix is good, old-fashioned customer service.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, March 15, 2008Radiology Coding and Compliance for 2008
Every year, radiology professionals who are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and compliance of coding and billing practices must do an internal assessment to ensure that their practices/organizations would withstand external scrutiny.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, March 15, 2008Imaging Center Valuation: What is Your Facility Worth?
Easy answers to the question of imaging center valuation abound, but are they the right answers?
Radiology Business Journal, March 01, 2008Bookmark This: Yottalook
Tired of sorting through attorney advertisements when you Google mesothelioma?
Radinformatics, February 15, 2008Does Size Matter?
The recent business news about Microsoft making a run at Yahoo has me ruminating about the deal-making climate in outpatient imaging and how the current trend toward strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions is changing the competitive landscape in many markets around the country.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, February 15, 2008Marketing the OIC: Is It Time to Go Directly to Patients?
Across the nation, outpatient imaging centers (OICs) are looking for ways to protect what they have built and ways to grow.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, February 15, 2008How Managed Care Targets Imaging Centers—and How to Fight Back
With the cost of advanced imaging technology always on the rise and reimbursement continually declining, now, more than ever, it is crucial that imaging centers negotiate optimal managed care contracts.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, February 15, 2008Process Automation: The Key to Improved Financial Performance
The high procedural volumes associated with radiology provide both a challenge and an opportunity.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, February 15, 2008The Marketing Imperative: It’s Not Your Father’s Radiology
Over time, the forces that make an industry strong and predictable will change.
ImagingBiz Newsletter, January 15, 2008
Popular Articles
- Isotope Shortage Hinders Nuclear Medicine
- Grow Your Multisite Business With a Single Sign-on Solution
- Taking Advantage of the Radiology Audit
- Health Care Reform and Medical Imaging: The 10,000-foot View
- Developing Innovative Customer-service Initiatives
- Adding a CCTA Program: Economic Benefits of Outsourcing
- Visage Imaging CEO David Chambers: On the Future of Health Care IT
Recent Articles
- CT Radiation Dose on the Table
- Strategies for Accommodating Self-pay Patients
- Marooned on Level 3: Leverage IT to Improve Reporting
- Informatics: Linchpin of Personalized Medicine
- Preventing a MAC Attack: The Importance of Radiology Charge-capture Audits
- Engaging Physicians in Hospital Radiology Quality Initiatives
- Malpractice Premiums: MIA in the Health Care Debate
- Cost of Care to Elderly Soars
ImagingBiz Archives
- January, 2010
- December, 2009
- November, 2009
- October, 2009
- September, 2009
- August, 2009
- July, 2009
- June, 2009
- May, 2009
- April, 2009
- March, 2009
- February, 2009
- January, 2009
- December, 2008
- November, 2008
- October, 2008
- September, 2008
- August, 2008
- July, 2008
- June, 2008
- May, 2008
- April, 2008
- March, 2008
- February, 2008
- January, 2008
- December, 2007
- November, 2007
- October, 2007
- September, 2007
- August, 2007
- July, 2007
- June, 2007
- May, 2007
- April, 2007
- March, 2007
- February, 2007
- January, 2007
- December, 2006
- November, 2006
- October, 2006
- September, 2006
- August, 2006
- July, 2006
- June, 2006
- May, 2006
- April, 2006
- March, 2006
- February, 2006
- December, 2005
- November, 2005
Radiology Business Journal Archives
Radinformatics Archives
