IPEM Topical Report: An evidence and risk assessment based analysis of the efficacy of quality assurance tests on fluoroscopy units-part II; image quality.

This work aims to assess the efficacy of x-ray quality assurance tests undertaken on fluoroscopy units in the UK. Information was gathered on the results of image quality tests recommended by the reports of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, and those additionally undertaken by medical physics departments. The assessment of efficacy considers the frequency with which a test result breaches the remedial level or other relevant threshold where applicable.

IPEM Topical Report: an evidence and risk assessment based analysis of the efficacy of quality assurance tests on fluoroscopy units-part I; dosimetry and safety.

This work aims to assess the efficacy of x-ray quality assurance tests undertaken on fluoroscopy units in the UK. Information was gathered on the results of dosimetry and safety tests recommended by the reports of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, and those additionally undertaken by medical physics departments. The assessment of efficacy considers the frequency with which a test result breaches the remedial level or other relevant threshold where applicable.

IPEM Topical Report: an evidence and risk assessment based analysis of the efficacy of tube and generator quality assurance tests on general x-ray units.

This work aims to assess the efficacy of current x-ray quality assurance (QA) testing regimes on tube and generator systems for general radiographic usage in the UK. 1393 sets of QA results data from nine UK medical physics departments were collected and analysed. Test failure rates ranged from 0% to 39% and were used to assess the likelihood of the test finding a fault.

Quality- and severity-based payment: will you receive what you earn?

Pay-for-performance programs that call for healthcare providers to meet external quality metrics are being proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other payers in order to increase the value of dollars spent on health care. While linking payment with the quality of health care may be a laudable goal, such programs have the potential to test the relationships between hospitals and physicians and unfairly penalize hospitals for factors that are beyond their control. In the following article, HFMA, with sponsorship from 3M Health Information Systems, asks five industry leaders to share their thoughts about what pay-for-performance programs may entail, how these programs and severity-based payment adjustments may affect their healthcare facilities, and strategies healthcare organizations should employ to best prepare.