For more than 20 years, breast imaging providers have worked to familiarize women with the concept of annual mammography screenings starting at age 40. Many of you will remember the “hiccup” in 2009 when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s recommendations left the decision for women age 40-49 up to the patient and...
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The Zika virus is rapidly spreading across the globe—and with no vaccine, patients and healthcare providers have cause for concern. The number of Zika cases in the U.S. surpassed 3,100 cases in mid-September 2016, according to a CDC report. As researchers work to understand the virus, imaging may play a key role in the...
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In the 1950s, Humorist Victor Borge said, “Laughter is an instant vacation.” At the time, he had no idea that modern medical science would prove him right. He just instinctively knew that humor helped people feel better. Laughing has a positive influence on your mental and physical well-being. Your pattern of thinking...
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At the heart of healthcare reform is the shift to value and focus on outcomes. This is evident once again in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recent bundled payment expansion. Back in April, the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) value-based payment rule took effect. In the CJR model,...
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I’m not a linguist, but I find it very telling that “patient,” a person receiving medical treatment, is spelled and pronounced the same as “patient,” the ability to accept or tolerate delay or suffering without becoming annoyed. We expect a great deal of patience from our patients, especially in the emergency room. Minor...
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Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published the 2017 proposed rules for the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). They included a draft rule on the reimbursement cuts that will affect older X-ray technologies—though there wasn’t a significant update. As you may recall, Congress...
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Is your facility planning on implementing a low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening program? If so, you’ll want to hear these lessons learned from Leslie Ciancibello, RT, R, CT, from the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. Lessons Learned From Implementing a LDCT Lung Cancer Screening Program Implementing a...
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To have a successful low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening program, several stakeholders—including referring physicians, technologists and schedulers—need to understand key elements of the program. In part three of our video blog series about LDCT lung cancer screening programs, Leslie Ciancibello, RT, R, CT, from the...
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In part two of our video blog series about low-dose CT lung cancer screening programs, Leslie Ciancibello, RT, R, CT, from the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, discusses key factors that impact screening volume and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Factors that Impact LDCT Lung Cancer Screening Program Volume When...
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Low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screenings are growing in popularity, with hundreds (if not thousands) of hospitals in the consideration or initial stages of program implementation. Implementing a successful lung cancer screening program takes a coordinated effort. In our four part video blog series, Leslie Ciancibello, RT,...
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If you’re an imaging provider, chances are something is keeping you up at night. There’s a lot to know with regard to the market, such as understanding sources of imaging volume growth and declines and predicting future utilization needs and rates. In a previous Cassling webinar presented by The Advisory Board Company,...
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On July 6th, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) released the draft rule for the 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System. Keep in mind, this is a draft rule and CMS is actively looking for comment on a number of their proposals; so, there is a possibility that the items inside of the rule can —...
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The Medicare program currently pays significantly different rates for services provided in different settings, and site-neutral payments have been considered as one way of eliminating the payment gap. However, that option has proven to be a contentious issue. In a previous Cassling webinar presented by The Advisory Board...
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Are you more “task oriented” or “people oriented?” Are you more outgoing or reserved? What about your staff and patients? How are your interactions with them? About 10 years ago, I was exposed to the DISC model of human behavior. Since that time, I have made it my mission to not only “see patients” but to connect with...
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One of the fastest-growing trends in healthcare is not happening at a university medical center or cancer research facility, but at your neighborhood shopping center, next door to Starbucks. Freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) – EDs not attached to a hospital – are proliferating in highly populated suburbia, thanks...
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