Dhruv Chopra, MBA, Collaborative Imaging Chief Executive Officer

While data and analytics reporting has grown immensely throughout other industries, it is still highly underutilized in radiology. Practices are often intimidated by transitioning into new data systems for fear of using them incorrectly. However, radiological analytics and reporting can be a major asset for any practice, especially in weathering the turbulent times of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Incorporating analytics and reporting into your practice can enhance clinical care and operations, fix billing errors and cut costs. This will not only improve your practice, but will also help it to stay afloat in the ever-evolving industry and for the remainder of this pandemic. Below, I dive deeper into three benefits of implementing analytics and reporting and how each can positively impact your practice.

The more radiological data becomes available, the more responsibility you have with managing it, especially across multiple platforms. Today’s radiologists often use multiple data systems – possibly one for each partnering hospital they work with – which could lead to massive operational headaches depending on how many partners these systems are spread across. If they are not streamlined consistently, errors, such as failing to visualize and predict trends, detect gaps, or draw accurate correlations, could arise.

Thankfully, advanced reporting tools that simultaneously manage multiple radiology systems and workstations can effectively handle information overload within practices. Leveraging these tools allows data to be aggregated and consolidated from various platforms into one common system. This converts the data into a more easily functional format that improves radiologists’ overall productivity.

In relevance to the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread implementation and utilization of these advanced tools can play a pivotal role in a practice’s pandemic response and beyond. Providing deep insights into COVID-19 symptoms and tracking for departments treating infected patients – along with managing high volumes of patients once business influx returns – could be an invaluable tool in navigating the complexity of the current industry.

Correct Billing Inaccuracies While Eliminating Waste

Revenue cycle management (RCM) processes have become increasingly complex over time, which can lead to severe complications if not maintained properly. Incomplete information, missing prior authorization or lack of documentation are just a few examples that can lead to significant subsequent issues if left unchecked in your RCM processes.

For example, let’s say a radiologist filed a claim for imaging services to their billing company. When the claim is submitted, the practice’s software accidentally attaches the imaging service to three other patient claims instead of just one. In this instance, the system shows the patients received additional imaging services that were never completed – causing a major quagmire in the revenue management cycle. An error like this could result in intensive, time-consuming billing nightmares that eventually delay reimbursement.

These errors in claims cost industry insurers billions of dollars annually. Furthermore, given the sheer volume of claims submitted each day, the price of capturing and reconciling billing discrepancies without the use of rich analytics systems is extremely ineffective and time-consuming.

Rich analytics systems identify poor data quality and fix mistakes automatically, resulting in more accurate claims and higher reimbursement rates while avoiding crucial errors that could lead to wasteful spending. In a time where many radiologists are working remotely due to recent federal regulations, implementing these systems in your practice can ease complex billing processes and avoid any possible billing complications.

Enhance Patient Care Through Detection and Prioritization

According to a 2018 report published in Nature Reviews Cancer on artificial intelligence (AI) in radiology, the massive rise in available radiological data and analytics has outgrown the number of industry professionals who are able to read and analyze them. To compensate for this disproportionate growth, healthcare providers have increased radiologist workload. Radiologist burnout is already extremely high, and increasing their workload can lead to increased human error.

Fortunately for referring providers and their radiologists, utilizing rich analytics in conjunction with AI offers the benefit of reading and interpreting multiple images at a more proficient pace. They also enforce deep learning models that are trained for specified image recognition tasks.

For example, a rich analytics system can recognize abnormalities in an image and place it higher in the order of images needed to be read. This allows radiologists to view images based on reading priority. Also, if images are accidentally sent to the incorrect physician, the data can be automatically re-routed to the appropriate referring physician, so an immediate plan of action can be determined for the sake of the patient’s health. Overall, this utilization of rich analytics and AI together drastically speeds up reporting and improves patient outcomes, lessening the overall workload for radiologists and enhancing the practice’s overall patient care.

Implementing analytics and reporting systems – such as those offered by Collaborative Imaging to its partners – can greatly improve your practice in the current digital age of radiology. Enhancing operational efficiency, fixing billing errors and improving patient care are just a few of the many benefits these systems can provide any practice looking to move forward in the industry. Radiology has always been extremely competitive, but in times like these, incorporating analytics and reporting systems may be what keeps your practice afloat for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic -- and what sets it apart once business returns.

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While data and analytics reporting has grown immensely throughout other industries, it is still highly underutilized in radiology. 

The Importance of Implementing Analytics and Reporting Into Your Radiology Practice

The early eruption of the coronavirus prompted the federal government to urge a widespread halt of elective procedures in hopes of slowing the viral spread. For radiologists, this caused a massive decline in routine exams, which can result in a 40 percent-to-60 percent loss in revenue. Evolving health policies and industry environments keep revenue cycle leaders constantly seeking new strategies for improving the financial health of their practice. Now, radiology practices must maximize their ability to recover revenue and look into sufficient solutions during this down time of business.

Cutting costs and improving efficiencies within a practice is easier said than done. However, leaders need to be able to adapt to changing times in the industry, especially the current state we are in. Implementing the following strategies can help practices maneuver this business nadir and set them up for lasting revenue cycle management excellence throughout the rest of COVID-19 and long after it is neutralized.

Achieving revenue cycle efficiency is an immense challenge under normal circumstances with the rapidly moving parts in this industry. Now, more than ever, it’s important for practices to enhance their revenue cycles to avoid further complications in this current business decline during the pandemic.

Whether billing is done in-house or outsourced by a third-party, it is important to utilize readily available technology to internally “scrub” claims for the accuracy and completeness required for clean filing. Technology allows for a rules-based review of billing files that is not dependent on a person and triple checks for accuracy before submission. Technology can also help identify opportunities for process improvement to reduce future errors from occurring.

Identify gaps in your current billing service

As the revenue cycle management (RCM) process becomes increasingly complex, it is possible that gaps in your practice’s process can result in significant revenue loss or delays. Successful billing operations often address common gaps, such as incomplete information, missing prior authorization or lack of documentation. There are numerous other gaps, however, that can often go unnoticed. If left unchecked, these gaps can lead to significant subsequent issues and a negative financial impact.

The most successful RCM processes automatically focus on gaps in billing by addressing reasons that are not the fault of the billing function, but rather of the payor. These types of processes are technologically driven and not people-dependent or intensive in numbers. Throughout the pandemic, many in-house and third-party billing solutions have had to scramble to figure out how to decentralize the operation to homes, straining people's dominant operations as gaps are found. Proper billing services – such as those provided by Collaborative Imaging – focus on these gaps which can prevent any interruption in remote workflow.

Prepare for a business spike with automated workflow solutions

Enhancing and preparing your RCM processes is extremely valuable during COVID-19 when revenue is diminished, but it will prove to be even more valuable when the pandemic begins to slow and practices encounter an increased demand for services. It is best to prepare for this expected business increase now with automated workflow solutions.

Instead of having to work through claims one by one, practices can implement these advanced solutions which allows them to access information the revenue cycle needs with just a few clicks of a mouse. These automated processes monitor and manage the end-to-end billing solutions regardless of vendor, billing system or solution. Through this, they ensure clean and complete information is obtained on the front-end with real-time, data-driven revenue cycle analytics. The end result? Clean claims that generate faster payment and a high possibility of capturing reimbursement opportunities that might have been previously overlooked.

The healthcare industry – and its technology – is constantly changing and will no longer be the same after COVID-19. It is imperative in this pandemic period that practices review all RCM policies and processes to maximize revenue, which can help manage the remainder of the pandemic and help them be better prepared for the future that will follow.

Three strategies to help bolster your bottom line during the pandemic.

Recovering Revenue During COVID-19

As the coronavirus continues to impact nearly every aspect of our day-to-day lives, health care professionals are among the ones who are continuing to work around the clock to keep everyone else safe. While the number of confirmed cases continues to climb – with the United States having more cases than any other country in the world – healthcare professionals risk contracting and spreading COVID-19 every day.

Thankfully, advancements in medical technology – like telehealth – allow some industry professionals to work remotely, joining the millions of Americans in avoiding virus exposure and attempting to slow the overall spread. Telehealth makes healthcare and healthcare services accessible to people who are currently quarantined or practicing social distancing. Radiologists are one of the healthcare groups who can effectively conduct work from home with the use of teleradiology.

Teleradiology capability at home provides the same functionality for physicians as their hospital onsite workstations, allowing radiologists to read images and generate reports seamlessly. Through teleradiology, radiologists can continue to provide interpretations and communicate with referring physicians just as they would by being in the hospital, but without the contact. Without distractions that occur in the hospital reading room, radiologists can be much more productive.                       

As the fight against COVID-19 continues, there is a growing need to make teleradiology solutions more common, especially with radiologists’ instrumental role with the detection and early diagnosis of COVID-19 cases.
	
	

The impact of teleradiology during COVID-19

Teleradiology gives radiologists the opportunity to interpret images and communicate with physicians electronically while working remotely. For example, 

’s cloud-based workstations and mobile applications allow radiologists and physicians to access diagnoses, reports and images no matter their location via cloud-based PACS. This allows both radiologists and physicians to provide proficient and excellent care for the patient while reducing the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19.

We’ve also seen the industry become a largely digital workforce. Many of Collaborative Imaging’s partnered radiologists have begun to view images at home, dictate reports with voice recognition and sign off on reports electronically. The first U.S. patient with lab-confirmed disease was diagnosed, in part, with chest radiography and the ongoing treatment regime includes additional chest radiography. As cases influx, COVID-19 case images can be analyzed remotely via teleradiology to help determine courses of treatment for infected cases.

The expansion of teleradiology during COVID-19

The federal government recognized the role telehealth technology could have during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a 

 that has broadened access to Medicare telehealth services. This regulation enhances patient care, as well as reduces the influx of people at physical medical facilities to restrict further COVID-19 spread. Additionally, there’s a temporary relaxation of mandatory in-state licensing requirement for radiologists that allows cross-state reading with teleradiology.

For Collaborative Imaging, this presents an opportunity to expand the teleradiology technology and gather volumes, which has been hard to come by in recent weeks. Previously, routine X-rays in outpatient settings and radiological volumes have decreased as more Americans follow stay-at-home orders. However, more radiological services will now be needed at facilities across the nation in detecting and treating COVID-19 cases. Implementing teleradiology into these facilities will allow more reads to be processed and offer quicker report turnarounds and better detections of the virus.

The future of teleradiology beyond COVID-19

Teleradiology may become the new industry norm long after the pandemic is neutralized. The proven accuracy, quality, and speed teleradiology brings will prompt radiologists and hospitals to implement these services throughout their practice patterns. Along with improving overall radiologist workflow and, thereby patient care, teleradiology is becoming the norm.
	
	Physicians will become more accustomed to working and communicating with radiologists via these services throughout the remainder of the coronavirus pandemic. Teleradiology’s capabilities streamlines communication between both sides while also improving physicians’ overall proficiency. Because of this, we can predict that it’ll be difficult to return to previous methods once things return to normal – another sign that teleradiology is the future of the industry.

Teleradiology services will become a solution to our current global pandemic and beyond. Making these types of services more accessible to radiologists will make a lasting impact on the industry. Overall, more reads will be interpreted and reported during this time while radiologists follow stay-at-home orders and work remotely to reduce viral exposure. Teleradiology isn’t the only solution to the COVID-19 crisis, but it can be an important step as it becomes more common throughout our health care systems.

Dhruv Chopra is the CEO of Collaborative Imaging, a radiologist-owned alliance. He previously spent 15 years as an executive with multiple billing companies in the radiology industry where he gained an appreciation for how much physician money is lost due to several inefficiencies. 

Technology for distance reading allows radiologists to remain productive during the outbreak – and it could help shape the future of the industry.

Teleradiology’s Role During COVID-19 

Among the many hurdles radiologists face, one of the most complicated challenges lies in communicating with referring physicians. Not only does successful communication enhance the delivery of patient care, but it also has shown to reduce the length of stay at the hospital, which results in significant cost reductions. Additionally, it helps ensure any incidental findings and recommendations made by the radiologist are not overlooked. As has been seen repeatedly, lack of communication or even miscommunication in many cases can cause major problems.

Poor communication between healthcare professionals is one of the primary causes of medical mistakes. The last thing a health professional wants is a patient’s health in danger because of miscommunication. Closing the communication gap between these clinicians and the radiologist is essential to providing patients with effective and efficient medical care.

 – a radiologist-owned alliance – has noticed a clear need for new communication strategies across the entire industry. As the organization continues to collaborate with more radiology practices nationwide, it’s realized that radiologists are often stuck with tracking down referring physicians’ contact information. The reality of incorrect or altogether missing referring physician information creates a logistical nightmare for a radiologist, particularly when it comes time to abnormal or critical findings that must be communicated immediately. This clerical work comes at the cost of interrupting studies and cutting into valuable time and resources.

Radiology practices must find ways to navigate this problem. Below are a few best practices to follow when facing this issue.

 indicates that when a radiologist directly communicates with their referring doctor, the clinician is more than 25 percent more likely to follow up with the radiologist’s recommendations. While this can be easier said than done, overall compliance with follow-up recommendations will greatly improve within the practice.

Ideally, recommendations should be communicated over the phone or with an email. The same study showed that when this type of direct communication is performed, the direct communication compliance rate rose to 93 percent, according to the same study. This is 22 percent higher than the compliance rate was when the radiologist and the referring clinician had no direct communication.
	
	What’s more, this type of communication allows referring physicians to cut out any unnecessary middlemen and receive information as soon as the radiologists connect with them. The faster and more efficiently referring physicians can get radiologists’ recommendations for follow ups, the faster radiologists can pass that information to patients.

Direct communication with referring physicians should be standard across the entire practice. To accomplish this, you’ll need to ensure that all parties involved understand communication expectations, which will expedite the overall communication process.

Ideally, radiologist leaders should develop practice-wide initiatives so it’s easy to follow and incorporate into day-to-day communication guidelines. Radiology practices can, then, distribute materials to help employees work through the changes first. This can be as simple as a one-page checklist of steps or as complex as a medical group-wide database.

Once a strategy is established for the whole practice, it is important to share the new processes with the referring physicians the practice has previously worked with. Communicating these new processes on a semi-annual basis not only holds your practice accountable, but it also ensures transparency with the physicians moving forward. It also allows the referring physician an opportunity to share how they think the communication process is working.

There are many ways to implement technologies into your practice to improve efficiency, especially in communication. Groups like Collaborative Imaging have been working on consolidating and integrating contact information for its wide range of referring clinicians so that there’s a direct communication route between radiologists and physicians. In addition, by utilizing AI-based technologies, the systems are able to detect what next steps need to be taken on a specific report.

Technology like this consumes the radiology report and identifies abnormalities, critical findings and recommendations. This information is, then, passed on to the critical findings notification team to relay the results to the referring physicians who are able to view images and radiology reports with one touch.

The application also allows the referring physicians to initiate a real-time, secure video conference with either the radiologist who interpreted the study or sub-specialist of their choice. The physicians are, then, able to review the images in real-time, collaborative manner, as opposed to viewing the images independently.

Radiology practices that have been implementing these types of proprietary, integrated solutions have witnessed its impact on communication. For instance, it works wonders for incidental findings in addition to notifying referring physicians and clinical institutions when recommendations are not adhered to, as well. As we continue to move forward into the new decade, radiologists should have a steady pulse on what new technologies are being introduced and finding one that works best for their practice.

While there will never be a one-size-fits-all solution for direct communication with referring physicians, radiology practices should still take the appropriate steps to ensure their time is being used wisely. Finding the right communication strategies will ultimately provide patients with more effective medical care, which is always the primary goal.

Collaborative Imaging’s Dhruv Chopra explains how to overcome one of radiology’s biggest hurdles

Author | Dhruv Chopra, MBA, Collaborative Imaging Chief Executive Officer

Articles

The Importance of Implementing Analytics and Reporting Into Your Radiology Practice

Recovering Revenue During COVID-19

Teleradiology’s Role During COVID-19

How To Successfully Communicate with Referring Physicians