Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Certificate of Need (CON) programs represent a patchwork of state regulatory programs across the United States that regulate the availability of selected health care services. Thirty-six states maintain laws designed to ensure access to health care services, maintain or improve quality, and control capital expenditures on health care services and facilities by limiting unnecessary health facility construction and checking the acquisition of major medical equipment. This article discusses the history of CON and explores controversies surrounding the current state of CON regulations.
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Strategic planning is becoming essential to neuroradiology as the health care environment continues to emphasize cost efficiency, teamwork and collaboration. A strategic plan begins with a mission statement and vision of where the neuroradiology division would like to be in the near future. Formalized strategic planning frameworks, such as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), and the Balanced Scorecard frameworks, can help neuroradiology divisions determine their current position in the marketplace. Communication, delegation, and accountability in neuroradiology is essential in executing an effective strategic plan.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Aug 2012
ReviewEvidence-based imaging and effective utilization: lessons in neuroradiology.
Expensive advanced imaging, such as magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, contributes to the unsustainable growth of health care costs in the United States. Evidence-based imaging decreases costs and improves outcomes by guiding appropriate utilization of imaging. ⋯ Barriers to evidence-based imaging can be traced to patient- and physician-related factors. Radiologists have a critical role in addressing some of these barriers.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Aug 2012
ReviewMedicolegal hazards: potential pitfalls for neuroimagers.
One of the major pitfalls faced by physicians is a basic lack of understanding of the legal aspects of medical malpractice. It is the authors' hope that the brief review of the history of malpractice law provided here affords the radiologist insights that could prove helpful in understanding how one must conduct oneself in a radiology practice. ⋯ Vigilance and minimizing errors is always most desirable, but error-free neuroradiology is unattainable. Best medical judgment, although not error free, is at least defensible as noted in the case law discussed here.
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Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) and the Internet have changed how clinicians interact with their clinical colleagues, both during the day and at night. Teleradiology may improve the quality of life for radiologists but it also improves the quality of the interpretations for the patients. Given the opportunity this provides to connect subspecialist clinicians with subspecialist radiologists, daytime and nighttime teleradiology is likely to increase. Although teleradiology may worsen the commoditization that started with PACS, patient care will likely be improved, and that should always be the highest priority.