Clinical decision support, or CDS, is an IT tool that embeds clinical guidelines to help providers select the most appropriate imaging exams for patients at the point of order entry. CDS has been getting well-deserved attention due to Medicare’s upcoming requirement for all outpatient advanced imaging services.

However, the benefits of imaging CDS go far beyond meeting a regulatory mandate. When executed properly, CDS can facilitate more appropriate use of imaging, hardwire care standards, and reduce total cost of care. Use this toolkit to effectively implement and manage imaging CDS.

Start exploring:

• I want to engage and educate stakeholders in CDS
• I want to design a roll out strategy
• I want to increase physician adherence to CDS
• I want to maximize the benefit of CDS at my organization

Section 1: Engage and Educate Stakeholders

The first step to effective CDS implementation is to engage all the right stakeholders, from physician executives to IT leaders to CDS end-users. Much of engagement relies on actionable and effective education.

  Download the CDS Education Resource Compendium to:

• Understand CDS Medicare requirements
• Build an effective CDS leadership team
• Create a quality-centric CDS message that will resonate with ordering providers

CDS Roadshow Presentation
Present these customizable slides that explain the CDS mandate, benefits of CDS, and results of progressive organizations. We have scripted talking points for each slide and suggest responses to likely audience questions to help CDS champions lead effective, well-informed discussions.

  Download the slides

A Radiology Group’s Guide to CDS Success

Intended for radiology groups, this presentation outlines strategies organizations must take to educate referring providers and hospital partners on CDS requirements to collect at-risk reimbursement. Use this as a guide during implementation efforts.

  Download the slides

Section 2: Go Live with CDS

From selecting a vendor to defining a system-wide rollout timeline, CDS implementation requires a comprehensive operational strategy.

  Download the CDS Rollout Resource Compendium to:

• Get up to speed on IT vendor Medicare requirement
• Select a vendor that meets your organization’s CDS needs
• Develop a CDS rollout timeline

Customizable CDS Vendor Assessment Scorecard

Use this template to collect stakeholder feedback about potential CDS vendors. Customize this scorecard with CDS vendor priorities unique to your organization (or use the pre-filled CDS Vendor Assessment Scorecard on page 6 of the above Compendium). Distribute scorecard to stakeholders during CDS vendor presentations.

  Download the scorecard

Vendor Analysis Spreadsheet

Use this customizable Excel spreadsheet and aggregate results from the CDS Vendor Assessment Scorecard. Analyze data by cohort and vendor to help make an informed CDS vendor selection.

  Download the spreadsheet

Section 3: Improve Provider Adherence and Data Analytics

CDS strategy does not stop at implementation. Programs must monitor ordering data and encourage appropriate use of the tool. This means tracking actionable metrics and sharing results with ordering providers.

  Download CDS Data Resource Compendium to:

• Select meaningful metrics that quantify CDS outcomes
• Develop a strategy to deliver ongoing ordering education, particularly for outliers
• Consider if hard stops would be effective at your organization

How to Comply With Medicare’s AUC Program

Use this coding guide to learn how to document CDS consultation on Medicare claims. Included are the specific codes needed to track AUC adherence and CDS mechanism consulted.

  Access the guide

CDS Imaging Referral Analysis

Use this customizable Excel spreadsheet to track imaging referral volumes by physician and physician group. This will help you understand where to focus CDS education efforts by identifying the physician groups with the largest referrals. This is especially relevant when tracking referrals outside of a hospital’s electronic health record.

  Download the spreadsheet

Section 4: Realize Outsized Value of CDS

CDS allows organizations to improve appropriateness and standardize use of imaging services. Programs should leverage CDS and build upon these outcomes to advance broader organization-wide goals, like care variation reduction.

  Download CDS Value Resource Compendium to:

• Identify payers potentially receptive to streamlining preauthorization requirements
• Quantify the benefits of provider-owned utilization management
• Understand how CDS could align with your organization’s strategic priorities, like cost reduction

Imaging Utilization Benchmark Generator

Understand how your organization’s imaging utilization rates compared to peers using our newly developed ED Imaging Utilization Benchmark Generator and Hospital Outpatient Department (HOPD) Imaging Utilization Benchmark Generator. Use these tools to pinpoint opportunities for more effective utilization management or highlight your success with appropriate use.