on April 24, 2013 |
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Topics: Service Lines, Cardiovascular, Imaging, Quality, Performance Improvement, Appropriateness
Brian Maher, Cardiovascular Roundtable
For the first time, the American College of Radiology (ACR) and American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) have jointly developed new appropriate use criteria (AUC) for CV imaging in heart failure patients.
The new criteria mark an important step in national efforts to optimize the utilization of CV imaging services for a high-cost, resource-intensive population. However, some questions remain regarding the usefulness of the new criteria in clinical practice.
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New CV imaging AUC released, but how much will it help?
on November 30, 2012 |
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Topics: Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Imaging, Appropriateness, Quality, Performance Improvement
Megan Tooley, Cardiovascular Roundtable
There is no denying the critical role non-invasive imaging plays in CV services. From screening and diagnosis to ongoing treatment monitoring, imaging has clear value in ensuring optimal treatment selection and that CV patients receive the most appropriate care.
As we explore in our recently-launched 2012-2013 Cardiovascular Roundtable national meeting series, beyond its clinical value, imaging can also be foundational to CV service line growth, acting as both a revenue generator in itself, and the entry-point for downstream services and procedures.
However, given the high volume and expenditures associated with CV imaging, it is increasingly becoming a target for utilization- and cost-containment measures led by regulators, medical societies, and payers.
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How are CV programs responding to imaging appropriateness scrutiny?
on August 13, 2012 |
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Topics: Appropriateness, Quality, Performance Improvement, Cardiovascular, Service Lines, Cardiac Cath, Cardiac Surgery, Imaging
Megan Tooley, Cardiovascular Roundtable
The CV service line faces increasing scrutiny over the appropriateness of diagnostic tests and procedures, as well as pressure to contain costs while improving quality during the transition to value-based care. These forces create urgency for CV administrators to develop strategies to right-size utilization and ensure patients receive the most appropriate care for their respective condition.
Professional societies, such as the American College of Cardiology, have created appropriate use criteria (AUC) for a variety of procedures and tests to support programs in meeting this mandate of appropriate CV care.
We've compiled links to the latest AUC, as well as a few additional resources regarding the use of these criteria, to make them more accessible for Roundtable members.
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Cardiovascular AUC at your fingertips
