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 facility management focus page provides information, videos, podcasts, and the latest news about workflow optimization, artificial intelligence, technology, radiology-radiologic technologist relationships, productivity, legislation, and reimbursement.

Given growing volumes for CT, MRI and PET imaging and an ongoing shortage of radiologists accelerated by retirements and shifts to part-time roles, Krishna Nallamshetty, M.D., says there is a considerable “mismatch really putting a tremendous amount of pressure on our physicians.”

In this environment with ongoing burnout challenges, hiring and retaining radiologists requires meeting them where they are, noted Dr. Nallamshetty during a recent 

“If you think about hiring physicians into our practice, there is no model. It is completely flexible based on what the radiologist needs. So that could include what types of studies they're reading, what time of day they're working, where they're working from, and any sort of interactions they want to have with the care delivery teams. So we've created 100 percent flexibility for every radiologist to feel that they really have curated the type of work environment that they want,” emphasized Dr. Nallamshetty, the chief medical officer for Radiology Partners.

Dr. Nallamshetty maintained that technology plays a significant role in bolstering efficiency, reducing administrative burden and mitigating burnout. He pointed out that the generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities with the recently launched 

 (Radiology Partners) emphasizes more of a focus on image interpretation and deemphasizes navigation of a voice reporting system.

“It's as if you had another human being, radiologist, fellow or resident sitting next to you, and you're looking at the images and you're rattling off what you want to say in layman's terms. What the system does for you is it … synthesizes that information and then generates a report based on what you said in a structured format that our referring physicians want,” added Dr. Nallamshetty, a professor and chair of radiology at the University of South Florida.

(Editor’s note: For related content, see “

Emerging Trends with Burnout in Radiology: An Interview with Chris Mattern, MD, Part 2

Burnout in Radiology: Key Risk Factors and Promising Solutions

Four Strategies to Address the Tipping Point in Radiology

For more insights from Dr. Nallamshetty, listen below or 

Radiology Partners

In a new podcast, Krishna Nallamshetty, M.D., shares his thoughts on key contributing factors to burnout in radiology, and discusses practical approaches and emerging technology that may help mitigate the issue.

The Reading Room Podcast: Current Perspectives in Addressing Burnout in Radiology

As a neuroradiologist and a pilot, Emanuel Kanal, M.D., noted that one of the safety principles he learned from the aviation field and has applied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety is the notion that an emergency situation is a statistical inevitability. Accordingly, one must have a proactive plan for addressing the emergency before it occurs, emphasized Dr. Kanal during a 

“ … What do you do when communication goes down and you're in the middle of a scan. Do you stop the scan? Do you complete the scan? What does the boots on the ground (person) do if they lost communication? What was the last command given? What was the last thing happening? Am I supposed to continue? That's a critical part of remote MR scanning and the standard operating procedure,” emphasized Dr. Kanal, chief of the Division of Emergency Radiology and director of Magnetic Resonance Services with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Noting the importance of defined roles and responsibilities with remote MRI safety, Tobias Gilk, MRSO, MRSE, rejected the commonly espoused platitude that MRI safety is everyone’s responsibility.

“No, it’s not. The notion that this is some kind of collective group project that we're all working on is one of the greatest disservices that we can do to MRI safety,” posits Gilk, the founder of Gilk Radiology Consultants, a senior vice president of RADIOLOGY-Planning, and a board member of the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS).

Gilk maintained that proactive precision with individual scopes of responsibilities and checklists is critical to bolstering safety with remote MRI scanning.

“It is in the act of defining individual roles, duties, responsibilities, expectations, and crystalizing that that we begin to build workflows that don't have gaps,” noted Gilk.

The Reading Room Podcast: A Closer Look at Remote MRI Safety, Part 1

The Reading Room Podcast: A Closer Look at Remote MRI Safety, Part 2

MRI Safety: A Closer Look at Key Factors in Managing Radiofrequency Exposure

For more insights from Emanuel Kanal, MD and Tobias Gilk, MRSO, MRSE, listen below or 

In the third of a three-part podcast episode, Emanuel Kanal, M.D. and Tobias Gilk, MRSO, MRSE, discuss strategies for maintaining the integrity of time-out procedures and communication with remote MRI scanning.

The Reading Room Podcast: A Closer Look at Remote MRI Safety, Part 3

When one considers the variety of responsibilities of an on-site magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist, Emanuel Kanal, M.D., noted in a 

 that the availability of a remote MRI technologist actually may enhance MRI safety.

“Who today is in charge of overseeing that adverse event? The technologist. … Who is responsible for screening the patient? The technologist. Who is responsible for injecting them? The technologist. Who is responsible for answering the phones? The technologist,” noted Dr. Kanal, the chief of the Division of Emergency Radiology and director of Magnetic Resonance Services with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

“ … In so many of our sites, the MR technologist is the only line of defense. They do everything. We hold them responsible for every single thing that has to do with safety in that environment. And for the first time, we just gave them an assistant.”

Tobias Gilk, MRSO, MRSE, added that clearly defined roles for the remote MRI technician and the on-site individual working with the patient may “reduce the frequency and severity” of adverse events.

“Whether it's an adverse reaction to contrast, whether it's a projectile event, whether it's a quench, in all of those situations, we're essentially in clean-up mode, right? I think one of the things that's really interesting is the potential that by actively managing patients and screening and the physical environment, as Dr. Kanal was describing, with specialization right, one individual is specialized to operating the scanner safely and effectively, and one individual is specialized in managing the environment and the individuals who operate within it,” noted Gilk, the founder of Gilk Radiology Consultants, a senior vice president of RADIOLOGY-Planning, and a board member of the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS).

Essential Keys to MRI Safety in the Age of Advanced Diagnostics

For more insights from Emanuel Kanal, MD and Tobias Gilk, listen below or 

In the second of a multi-part podcast episode, Emanuel Kanal, M.D. and Tobias Gilk, MRSO, MRSE, share their perspectives on remote MRI safety protocols for ensuring screening accuracy and adherence to conditional implant guidelines as well as a rapid and effective response to adverse events. 

While emphasizing the importance of site-specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) with remote magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety, Emanuel Kanal, M.D., said on a 

 that it is critical to define will be stepping into the shoes and role of the traditionally on-site MRI technologist.

“The most knowledgeable person about MR safety in general is the MR technologist. They're worth their weight in gold. They're the ones that that guard the site. They oversee the site. They protect the patient, health-care practitioners, the site itself and their interests. They're the most knowledgeable, almost across the board, and they've been removed from the site,” pointed out Dr. Kanal, chief of the Division of Emergency Radiology and director of Magnetic Resonance Services with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

“ … Now we’re facing the situation with the full remote operation clinical scanning … which is really going to necessitate that we figure out who that person is, what training or competencies we expect that person to have, how that new person plugs into a workflow, and as Dr. Kanal described, situational responsibility (and) situational authority in that environment,” added Tobias Gilk, the founder of Gilk Radiology Consultants, a senior vice president of RADIOLOGY-Planning, and a board member of the American Board of Magnetic Resonance Safety (ABMRS).

Dr. Kanal added that remote MRI scanning currently isn’t addressed in the Manual on MR Safety from the American College of Radiology (ACR). However, Dr. Kanal noted there will a section on remote MRI safety at the upcoming Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference (Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2025) that he will be moderating as well as forthcoming announcements from the ABMRS.

FDA Clears Remote Scanning Software with MRI, CT and PET Capabilities

Kanal E. Divided liability remote MR scanning. 

In the first of a multi-part podcast episode, Emanuel Kanal, MD and Tobias Gilk share their insights and perspectives on remote MRI safety.

Earlier this month, on April 5, the Office of the National Coordinator enacted its information-blocking rules designed to facilitate sharing of health data and images with patients. However, a recent survey conducted by interoperability company Life Image revealed that most facilities are not yet in compliance, opening themselves up to penalties of up to $1 million.

Compliance, however, is critical to improved patient care, particularly during the lingering pandemic. 

 spoke with Life Image President and CEO Matthew Michela about the role these rules play in healthcare and strategies facilities can use to come into compliance. 

For more coverage based on industry expert insights and research, subscribe to the Diagnostic Imaging e-Newsletter 

Matthew Michela, President and CEO of Life Image, discusses ONC information-blocking rules and strategies practices can take to ensure compliance.

The Reading Room: Information-Blocking and Interoperability Compliance

Artificial intelligence has been a mainstay of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting for nearly a decade. Each year brings new developments, reveals new capabilities and algorithms, and furthers the conversation about how these tools can help radiologists provide care.

This year, the conversation began to turn to what steps could come next for AI. Conversations about deployment, consolidation, and U.S. Food & Drug Administration clearance are now the norm as the technology becomes less of a novelty and more of a mainstay.

 speaks with Nina Kottler, M.D., chief medical officer of AI at Radiology Partners, about her reaction to what this year’s conference offered about these tools and what she sees on the horizon in 2021.

Nina Kottler, M.D., chief medical officer of AI at Radiology Partners, discusses, during RSNA 2020, what new developments the annual meeting provided about these technologies, sessions to access, and what to expect in the coming year.

The Reading Room: Artificial Intelligence: What RSNA 2020 Offered, and What 2021 Could Bring

Work has been ongoing for years to decrease the presence and impact of disparities throughout healthcare, including in radiology. But, problems still exist, and there are new challenges on the horizon that could make it more difficult for radiologists to make it easier for patients to get the imaging services they need.

During this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, Richard Heller, M.D., associate chief medical officer and national director of pediatric radiology with Radiology Partners, and Lucy Spalluto, M.D., associate professor of radiology and radiological sciences at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, participated in a session dedicated to addressing the continued existence of health disparities. 

 about the underlying factors that result in healthcare disparities, as well as the challenges providers and facilities face to improving access to care.

Rich Heller, M.D., with Radiology Partners, and Lucy Spalluto, M.D., with Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, discuss the highlights of their RSNA 2020 session on health disparities, focusing on the underlying factors and challenges radiologists face to providing greater access to care.

RSNA 2020: Addressing Healthcare Disparities and Access to Care

This is Episode 2 of The Reading Room, the Diagnostic Imaging podcast. To subscribe, click 

According to Matthew Michela, president and chief executive officer of medical image exchange company Life Image, the continued spread of COVID-19 has revealed to many radiology departments the importance of digital image exchange. Those that have not viewed it as a critical priority are nervous about the impact of handling physical media over the long term.

Michela, a 30-year healthcare industry veteran, joins 

 to discuss how data can improve our understanding of COVID-19, what we have learned from the pandemic, and what best practices facilities can implement to bolster their interoperability and accessibility. 

Matthew Michela, president and chief executive officer of Life Image, discusses the role of data interoperability and accessibility during the pandemic. 

The Reading Room: Data Interoperability's Role in the Pandemic

Rogue MDs is a group of health care professionals who enlighten and entertain by discussing issues relevant to today’s health care landscape.

In early December, President Barack Obama’s throat had already been sore for several weeks. His unscheduled visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center quickly made breaking news, and White House staffers “were kept up to speed” on the President’s condition, according to 

. After an ear, nose, and throat specialist conducted a fiber optic exam, which revealed soft tissue swelling in the posterior throat, a CT scan was ordered.

The CT scan was normal; President Obama was experiencing acid reflux.

So let’s talk about quality of care and appropriate use of imaging.

In this episode, our “Rogue MDs” discuss “Obamascan” and its implications for how imaging is used.  

Meet this episode’s Rogue MDs:[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_crop","fid":"34494","attributes":{"alt":"Saurabh Jha, MD, MS","class":"media-image media-image-right","id":"media_crop_4216929555348","media_crop_h":"0","media_crop_image_style":"-1","media_crop_instance":"3669","media_crop_rotate":"0","media_crop_scale_h":"0","media_crop_scale_w":"0","media_crop_w":"0","media_crop_x":"0","media_crop_y":"0","style":"height: 134px; width: 100px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px; float: right;","title":"Saurabh Jha, MD, MS","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]

Saurabh Jha, MD, MS, is an academic radiologist who believes there are no solutions, only trade-offs. Follow him on Twitter @RogueRad

Stephen Hunt, MD, PhD is an interventional radiologist who believes that innovation can solve anything. Follow him on Twitter @MD_Rogue

Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed are those of the speakers and are not the opinions of their employers or spouses, particularly not their spouses.

[PODCAST] Obama's sore throat and CT scan and what it means for imaging utilization. 

Fifth Column: Obamascan

The radiology department at Hackensack University Medical Center has always been committed to patient safety and quality of care. But now they have a unique distinction to prove it.

The Bergen County, NJ, facility was recently recognized by the American College of Radiology as one of the first two 

This distinction, also awarded to the Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor, Maine, shows the medical center went above and beyond accreditation, proving high quality in areas such as personnel, equipment specifications, outcomes measurement and quality control systems, safety policies, utilization reviews, facility management and patient outcomes. The center was also evaluated in service, availability of imaging and radiologists, and image interpretation and quality.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_crop","fid":"14193","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","id":"media_crop_9222787725802","media_crop_h":"0","media_crop_image_style":"-1","media_crop_instance":"708","media_crop_rotate":"0","media_crop_scale_h":"0","media_crop_scale_w":"0","media_crop_w":"0","media_crop_x":"0","media_crop_y":"0","style":"float: right; margin: 5px;","title":"Harry Agress Jr., MD, FACR","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]“By being so stringent and so specific, it not only speaks to the elements of patient safety and care, but it also goes to the point that we take this job very, very seriously,” said Harry Agress Jr., MD, FACR, chairman emeritus of the Department of Radiology at Hackensack University Medical Center, speaking in a podcast interview with 

. “This says we feel a great deal of responsibility for that.”

Agress and Jason Kreitner, MHA, RT, (R)(T), FACHE, administrator of clinical services at Hackensack, convened a multidisciplinary team to review the ACR standards set in the application. Together, that team tackled each area to ensure they met the requirements, he said. It turned out the medical center was already following most of the standards, and a few areas needed attention.

For example, the team upgraded and formalized many of their policies and procedures, such as those documenting communication with referring physicians. They also clarified some job descriptions, and spent time formalizing their education and marketing of radiation safety to patients and referrers.

Agress noted a few elements that make Hackensack unique, including that they have 24-7 coverage by onsite attending physicians, rather than outsourced radiologists or residents and fellows. That makes the radiology department available for consultation at any time, he said, and allows for faster turnaround times.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_crop","fid":"14194","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","id":"media_crop_1973456998479","media_crop_h":"0","media_crop_image_style":"-1","media_crop_instance":"709","media_crop_rotate":"0","media_crop_scale_h":"0","media_crop_scale_w":"0","media_crop_w":"0","media_crop_x":"0","media_crop_y":"0","style":"float: right; margin: 5px;","title":"Jason Kreitner, MHA, RT, (R)(T), FACHE","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]

Now, with this Center of Excellence distinction, the facility can show to patients and referring physicians that they are taking that extra step, Agress said. “We are really a high-level imaging center [and] we care a great deal about our patients and the quality of what we are doing.”

The 25-page application can be a bit overwhelming, officials said, but it’s worth the effort. And Kreitner has already received calls from other facilities asking how they achieved this recognition and what the process was like.

“This exemplifies to our patients and physicians in our community that quality is paramount,” he said, “and demonstrates that we made the investment in ensuring we deliver the highest possible care to our patients.”

Hackensack University Medical Center has earned ACR’s distinction as one of the first two Diagnostic Imaging Centers of Excellence. Here’s how they did it.

What It Takes To Be an Imaging Center of Excellence

New research shows that women, subspecialists and radiologists in non-academic settings had over a 25 percent higher attrition rate in radiology in comparison to men, general radiologists and academic radiologists.



Radiology Workforce Study Finds Greater Attrition of Women, Subspecialists and Non-Academic Radiologists Over Eight-Year Period

The Revolution Vibe computed tomography system reportedly facilitates quality low-dose imaging for cardiac exams in patients with arrhythmias, heavily calcified coronaries and stents.



FDA Clears Emerging CT Device That Facilitates 50 Percent Reduction in CCTA Exam Time

Emerging cloud and AI-driven technologies may help address resource gaps, bolster consistent imaging quality and provide improved access to radiology services. 

How Cloud and AI Innovations Can Facilitate Remote Radiology Services

While the research reveals key benefits with portable imaging, particularly point-of-care ultrasound applications with AI capabilities, these authors note challenges with variability in training and advocate for radiologist-led oversight.

Portable Imaging and Radiology: Where Things Stand with Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Emphasizing advanced orchestration of imaging workflows, the Rhapsody Image Director software reportedly facilitates streamlined efficiency and infrastructure that accommodates multimodal AI tools.

Can Rhapsody Image Director Improve Efficiency with Radiology Workflows?

’s Weekly Scan, which offers an opportunity to catch up on the most well-viewed radiology content of the past week.

In a new study, published earlier this week in the 

, researchers found that women, subspecialists and radiologists in non-academic settings had 

over a 25 percent higher attrition rate in radiology

 in comparison to men, general radiologists and academic radiologists over an eight-year period.

In a new study recently presented at the 41st Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), researchers found that for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, switching from oral therapies to subcutaneous monthly administration of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody ofatumumab led to over 

a 98 percent reduction of Gd+ T1 lesions on MRI at 96 weeks

In comparison to false positives with unassisted radiologist interpretations of DBT exams, 

AI-only false positive assessments were associated with a significantly higher total of false-positive findings

 as well as a 33 percent lower frequency of dense breasts, according to a new study of nearly 3,000 women who had screening DBT exams.

, researchers showed markedly higher sensitivity rates with the use of 

adjunctive AI for ischemic stroke detection on non-contrast CT exams

 but also noted a high degree of bias and lack of external validation in many of the studies.

, Partho Sengupta, M.D., and Davinder Ramsingh, Ph.D., discussed recent research demonstrating the capability of 

point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to facilitate reduced length of stay and significant cost savings

 in the management of patients with dyspnea.

Catch up on the top radiology content of the past week.

Diagnostic Imaging’s Weekly Scan: September 28 — October 4

Diagnostic Imaging's Weekly Scan: September 28 — October 4

With the end of the summer upon us, we take a look back at the most well-viewed breast imaging content of the last three months for 

, researchers found that the addition of contrast-enhanced mammography to digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) more than doubled the cancer yield per 1,000 women in comparison to DBT alone.

In a three-part podcast this summer, leading breast radiologists discussed 

the role of abbreviated breast MRI in breast cancer screening

In August, Amy Patel, MD, discussed new research findings that revealed a 

45 percent higher likelihood of mammography screening among women with Medicaid in Missouri

 due to expanded mammography coverage in the state. Here is a clip from the interview.

 revealed that mammography detected 82 percent of pregnancy-associated breast cancer in a cohort of women with a high prevalence of extremely dense breasts.

recently published study involving over 68,000 women

, researchers found that White women may be 11 times more likely than Black women to be eligible for supplemental breast cancer screening coverage in Pennsylvania.

For more insights, watch the video below.

From emerging research on disparities in breast cancer screening to the promising combination of contrast-enhanced mammography with DBT and a three-part podcast on abbreviated breast MRI, here is a look back at the most well-reviewed breast imaging content of the summer.

Diagnostic Imaging’s Top Five Breast Imaging Content: Summer 2025 

’s review of the top breast imaging content for the summer of 2025.

Radiologists have absorbed a fair amount of work beyond the interpretation of imaging, noted Chris Mattern, M.D. in a recent interview.

There may be some organizing of the radiology report on the PACS system, following up on phone calls with referring docs, tracking down a comparison study or correcting a transcription from voice recognition software. Some data has suggested that up to 30 percent of a radiologist’s time is spent doing various clerical duties, according to Dr. Mattern.

In the second part of a recent interview, Chris Mattern. M.D., discussed the increasing burden of non-clinical tasks upon radiologist workloads and the potential of the emerging enterprise imaging platform MosaicOS to address efficiency and restore the focus on clinical care.

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