The Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting is in full swing this week, and the news coming out of the show is an unsurprising echo of the focus on quality improvement that we’ve heard from so many healthcare politicos of late. With the increasing specificity of what defines meaningful use and new standards surrounding reimbursement, we weren’t too shocked to hear speeches on the same quality theme (see the keynote from RSNA pres Dr. Gary Becker for the most notable example) on the docket.
Just in time for the show, we last week announced a new peer review management system for radiology from risk and quality management solutions provider Insight Health Solutions. RadiologyInsight, the latest quality improvement tool to join the company’s suite of products, is the only peer review tool of its kind that assigns radiology overreads by subspecialty. Current procedure at hospitals sees random peer review, which means less valid data, no faith in the integrity of the process, and, in most, cases severe physician compliance problems. (Yes, patients aren’t the only ones creating problems for the healthcare system with their lack of participation!) With RadiologyInsight, radiologists are assigned overreads as part of their regular caseload – and these are only within their specific subspecialty. So docs know they will get a valid and expert second opinion on their reads, and diagnostic accuracy is legitimately assured and/or appropriately reevaluated (which is the whole point, anyway). With the tremendous push toward quality as meaningful use heats up, this tool – and the simple but extremely important capability it provides – will no doubt prompt some copycats, especially with the healthcare community’s interest in imaging as both a diagnostic and development tool. Keep a weather eye on the radiology horizon!
IHS is exhibiting at RSNA now, so check them out at Booth 6605 in Hall A, or visit the link below for more info: