Imaging 3.0 tools equip radiologists to deliver quality patient care in healthcare delivery system

National Decision Support Company, Montage Healthcare Solutions and Nuance Communications are collaborating to bring Imaging 3.0™ tools to the radiologist.

Imaging 3.0™ is a transformation in the way radiology will be practiced. Citing a need for greater integration in the health care enterprise and the culture shift needed to make it happen, the American College of Radiology (ACR) is leading the Imaging 3.0™ initiative for the field of radiology.  Imaging 3.0™ is a set of technology and data management tools that equip radiologists to deliver quality patient care in an evolving health care delivery system and under revised payment models.

The Imaging 3.0™ technology infrastructure contemplates support for new workflows that enhance care integration and data capture, allowing radiologists to demonstrate their contribution to value-based care.  "The disconnect between the ordering of a study and the resulting outcome has made it difficult to document the value of these exams," according to Mike Tilkin, CIO of ACR. "Connecting the order and result are the ideal touch points within healthcare to integrate an Imaging 3.0™ workflow. Having a platform to measure and track this value is the glue that ties this process together, and collaboration between vendors and the ACR are key to making this happen."

ACR Select, from National Decision Support Company (NDSC), is the first step in radiology's new roadmap under Imaging 3.0™.  The fully integrated software provides ACR Appropriateness Criteria-based decision support tools to the ordering physician to guide them to the best imaging procedure for their patient. "In addition to offering expert-derived advice, ACR Select empowers the radiologist as an active participant in the care process and results in better outcomes and utilization," according to Mike Mardini, NDSC founder and CEO. Mardini explains, "Standardization in processes that are well documented to improve care have been elusive because physicians have resisted the perceived automation of decision making as usurping the art of medicine.  ACR Select offers a basis in the evidence-based standards of care supported by the ACR's Appropriateness Criteria and the access point between the referring physician and the radiologist when cases are not clear-cut and require additional consultation.  And, ACR Select records this interaction and variations from the care standard to inform and develop the future evidence base from the clinical process."

A core component of the Imaging 3.0™ message is ensuring the right test at the right time, and also offering a data-rich report that is efficiently interpreted.  Nuance's PowerScribe 360 platform is the most widely used radiology reporting platform in the market. "Our platform enables radiologists to create actionable, structured reports in an accurate, efficient manner including critical results notifications and logging," states Peter Durlach, senior vice president of marketing and product strategy, Nuance.  "A succinct, actionable radiology report is the most tangible value the radiologist delivers in the care process," says Durlach.  Linking the improved ordering process available from ACR Select with enhanced reporting from PowerScribe 360 is an opportunity for continuous improvement of radiology services.

"By providing feedback on the order in the form of a structured report, our content just keeps getting better and better," continues Mardini. "Actionable reports are also a way to ensure that radiologist recommendations are documented and followed, thereby helping to drive better patient care and ensure radiology's role in the care continuum," continues Peter Durlach of Nuance.

In a value-based radiology economy, tracking and measurement are critical. Transparent access to metrics about the impact of radiology services is the cornerstone to any conversation about quality, and each stakeholder in the process needs a unique set of metrics.

Montage Healthcare Solutions' powerful analytics capabilities connect data from ACR Select, PowerScribe 360 and other infrastructure components to create reports radiologists can use to give visibility into quality, productivity and outcome metrics associated with patient-centered care objectives.

"Montage is delivering a clinical search and analytics package that captures key performance and care indicators that bridge the gap from volume-based efficiency measures to value-based radiology-related outcomes.  The structured and unstructured data contained in the Nuance and ACR Select platforms are core components to measuring and delivering on the value of radiology.  Targeted analytics are the only way to begin the conversation about quality and value. That's what Imaging 3.0™ is all about," says Dr. William Boonn, president of Montage.

"Each of these components alone is just a part of the story.  The Imaging 3.0™ framework is the glue that brings them all together so that the sum is greater than its parts.  Imaging 3.0™ defines the value proposition for radiology in the performance-based health care environment and having this kind of industry collaboration can make this a reality," states Mike Tilkin of the ACR.

The vendors will be showcasing their collaboration at the annual Radiological Society of North America conference, December 1-5, 2013 in Chicago, IL.