Diagnostic Reading #6: Five “Must Read” Articles on HIT and Radiology

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This week’s articles include: EHRs and HIEs lacking, and post-processing in radiology.

Diagnostic Reading summary includes: radiology in the era of payment reform; making the most of EHRs is easier said than done; exposing reasons for the difficulties in connecting patient information; brain MRI might help diagnose vascular cognitive disorder; and post-processing can fix problems with contrast uptake without re-imaging patients.

Radiology in the era of payment reform – Diagnostic Imaging

The MACRA Act of 2015 is a quality payment program. Starting this year, there are two tracks for practices that bill Medicare patients: the advanced payment model and the merit-based incentive program. The statute recognizes two categories, patient facing and non-patient facing physicians. Many radiologists believe they are a patient-centered specialty; however there are advantages to the statute that classifies radiologists as non-patient facing.

Making the most of electronic health records is easier said than done – Healthcare IT News

Electronic health records have become an integral part of healthcare delivery and most providers have adapted to using them in varying capacities. However there is a sense that EHRs aren’t fulfilling their enormous potential as conduits for personal health information, patient diagnostics/monitoring, and point-of-care decision support.

Why is it so difficult to connect patient information? – HIMSS 2017

Health information exchanges (HIE) have not lived up to their potential. They house regional stores of siloed data that is often unused, not current, and cannot be shared across geographical barriers. Sharing patient information across providers, facilities, and platforms requires a single standard for data sharing—a system that can link data from diverse providers and expanded telehealth resources.

Brain MRI might help diagnose vascular cognitive disorder – Diagnostic Imaging

Standard clinical brain MRI showed microscopic damage of main white matter tracts that allowed radiologists to distinguish patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease and cognitive impairment from those who were cognitively intact. These findings mean a simple MRI test might improve the diagnostic work-up of people with suspected vascular cognitive disorder.

Botched contrast uptake? Post-processing can fix it – Radiology Business

Researchers used post-processing tools to reduce repeat imaging when diagnosing pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is one of the most common causes of death in the U.S.; nearly 16 percent of all medical autopsies find a major blockage in a blood vessel in a lung. Successful treatment is highly time-sensitive, so a diagnosis must be quick and accurate if a patient is to survive. Instead of repeat exams, clinicians can use widely available post-processing tools to clear up the image, giving them more confidence in their diagnosis.

Check back next Friday for a new issue of Diagnostic Reading. #healthIT