The 75 Largest Private Radiology Practices

November 28, 2011 | Feature

Introduction During the break of a radiology-group retreat, a young radiologist was congratulating a radiologist 30 years his senior on his upcoming retirement. The young radiologist... Read More »

Radiology’s Nuclear Spring

November 28, 2011 | Adview

Tilting toward RSNA and entering the home stretch of 2011, I haven’t had a lot of time to reflect on the year, but I know that I am not alone. Everywhere I go, I hear a common chorus (no time!) followed by a plaintive refrain (at least I still... Read More »

Magical Thinking About Imaging

October 27, 2011 | Adview

I understand that the government does not want to spend money on an imaging examination that is unnecessary. As a fiscal conservative, I have an inherent distaste for waste and actively resent the idea of my tax dollars being spent on anything that isn’t necessary. When it comes... Read More »

Predator or Prey?

July 16, 2011 | The Big Picture

Here we go again: In a replay of the early, heady days when HMOs and managed-care models blurred the lines between payor and provider, we are again seeing health-care consolidation on a dizzying scale—which is almost obliterating that line completely. Two recent deals are emblematic of both the... Read More »

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: A Conversation With Jeff C. Goldsmith, PhD

November 28, 2010 | Feature

What happens when you cross a futurist and a radiologist?

In October 2010, Oxford University Press published The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: How Medical Imaging Is Changing Health Care, by Bruce J. Hillman, MD, the effective father of the ACR® Imaging Network, and Jeff C. Goldsmith, PhD, a health-care... Read More »

A Pollyanna Interlude

November 28, 2010 | Adview

Those who know me even a little would never peg me as a Pollyanna, heroine of the 1913 novel of the same name by Eleanor H. Porter (1868–1920): a cheerful bundle of optimism with the gift of finding sunshine in even the darkest day. Even by those closest to me, I... Read More »

Imaging-center Data: Interpreting New Industry Volume Trends

November 15, 2010 | Deal Scan

Analysis of the fair market value of an imaging center requires the analysis of disparate sets of information regarding the environment in which the subject company operates. The valuation analyst will research various sources of economic and industry data, as well as obtaining company-specific information as part of the... Read More »

Content Matters

October 13, 2010 | Final Read

There is a growing national discussion focused on the business model of publishing, in this era of niche media—especially as it relates to how we, as information consumers, prefer to receive and access this information. Actually, the discussion is not new at all, since so-called narrowcasting has been... Read More »

A Business Like No Other

February 24, 2010 | The Bottom Line

Health care is a business like no other because its very purpose is to extend and improve quality of life. It is a business, nonetheless, with revenues and costs, and with bills, lenders, and employees to pay. A common phrase, among even the most charitable of not-for-profit health-care organizations,... Read More »

Now, for Something Completely Different

December 01, 2009 | Adview

As I sit here trying to think of a way to wrap up a year of tremendous change in radiology, health care, and the economy at large, I understand that there is no way to turn 2009 into a neat package. Nevertheless, sifting through a year’s worth of content... Read More »

Now, the OIG Takes Aim

October 02, 2009 | Adview

In its annual work plan for 2010,1 published October 1, the OIG has indicated more than a passing interest in the specialty of radiology, announcing no less than four imaging-specific initiatives that it intends to pursue in 2010. Two of the agenda items fall into the milder category of inquiries and are... Read More »

The Invisible Radiologist Meets the New Math, Climate Change, and Business 101

September 09, 2009 | Feature

These are challenging days to be a radiologist. Decreasing payment, financial uncertainties, market consolidation of imaging facilities, utilization controls, disrupted business plans, questionable business models, and turf and contract challenges have become commonplace concerns for radiology practices. Added to these issues are equally valid concerns about the growing commoditization... Read More »

Quantifying Imaging’s Value to Patients

August 18, 2009 | Imaging Futures

Contrary to popular belief among regulators and payors, imaging studies do, in fact, contribute to improved patient care, according to a to-be-published study, “The Association Between Hospital Outcomes and Diagnostic Imaging: Could More Be Better?” by David W. Lee, PhD, and David Foster, PhD.

Pandora and the Very Scary Box

July 01, 2009 | Adview

Out of the box flew all of mankind’s misfortunes

An amazing thing happened in the month of June 2009. The father of modern teleradiology resigned from the company that has become synonymous with teleradiology, NightHawk Radiology. We all know him: Paul Berger, MD.

It... Read More »

Extreme Subspecialization Builds Its Own Knowledge Base

May 15, 2009 | Quality

“The more you see, the better you are,” Javier Beltran, MD, FACR, says. “You’re exposed to so much pathology that you’ve seen it all, at the end of the day. It brings your expertise to another level.” Beltran is talking about what might be called extreme subspecialization.... Read More »

Trends in Mergers and Acquisitions in the Diagnostic Imaging Sector

June 12, 2008 | Deal Scan

There is little question, and ample evidence, that merger-and-acquisition activity in the diagnostic imaging business sector has increased since the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) in 2005, and since Medicare Physician Fee Schedule changes and IDTF Standards changes in 2006 and 2007. Many in the prognostication business have been forecasting some sort of... Read More »

Radiology’s Next Big Policy Fight

March 15, 2008 | Feature

A Q & A with noted health care futurist Jeff Goldsmith, PhD, provides insight into the specialty’s looming challenges and vast opportunities.

A conversation with Jeff Goldsmith, PhD, is, by definition, unpredictable and always provocative. Currently associate professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of... Read More »

Consolidation Ahead: Imaging Mergers and Acquisitions

February 15, 2008 | Deal Scan

Over the past 10 years or so, there have been distinct phases in mergers and acquisitions in the medical imaging market. At the turn of the millennium, there was optimism about the state of the market, and consolidation was taking place at the volume that was to be expected, based... Read More »

Canada’s Number–one Imaging Provider Acquires American Radiology Services

January 15, 2008 | Deal Scan

CML HealthCare Income Fund, Mississauga, Ontario, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Baltimore-based American Radiology Services (ARS) for $151 million.

ARS operates 17 imaging centers in Maryland and Delaware and, in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins University-based 68-radiologist group American Radiology Associates (ARA), PC, Baltimore, performs 2.2 million... Read More »

Post-DRA Roundup: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Ugly

July 15, 2007 | Legislative Report

I have been asked to provide our experience, so far, in 2007, with respect to the impact of DRA 2005 on imaging centers. Many professional associations and news outlets are all asking the same question: What is the real impact of DRA 2005? In our experience, it is a bit early for... Read More »