Dear AuntMinnie Member,
What does 2016 have in store for radiology? It's an almost impossible question to answer, but we asked our team of editors to come up with a short list of the topics they think will be generating headlines in the months to come.
At the top of our list is the emergence of big-data analytics tools for wringing out efficiency gains at imaging facilities and producing better patient outcomes. While big data has made inroads as a tool for improving operations, radiologists are hoping that 2016 will be the year that data analytics proves its worth for clinicians, such as by determining which suspicious lung nodules are most likely to be cancerous.
Another big trend will be the emergence of value-based radiology, as the U.S. government tries to push healthcare away from the fee-for-service model. Federal authorities believe that a system that rewards value -- through better patient outcomes and satisfaction -- would serve the country better, but implementing such a model is easier said than done.
Other important trends in 2016 include the ongoing debate over breast screening, the first full year of reimbursement for CT lung cancer screening, and the investigation of safety concerns over gadolinium MRI contrast, among other topics.
Do you agree with our list? Check out the story by clicking here, and let us know what you think via Twitter (@AuntMinnie) or the old-fashioned way at [email protected].
The end of the road for meaningful use?
It's hard to believe, but the U.S. government's meaningful use program to spur investment in healthcare IT may be reaching the end of the road.
In comments made at an investor conference in San Francisco earlier this week, the acting head of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said the agency is looking to replace the meaningful use program in the months to come.
Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt said CMS intends to replace meaningful use with "something better," in particular with a system that rewards providers for delivering value-based care rather than simply acquiring technology.
How will the new program sort out? It's not clear right now, but it is obvious that one big priority at CMS will be interoperability. Read more by clicking here, or visit our Imaging Informatics Community at informatics.auntminnie.com.
