RT Image May 4, 2009 : Page 11|EXECUTIVE FORUM| At American Imaging Management (AIM), we have the privilege to provide clinical review services for more than 35 million health plan members in 32 states. Our programs have successfully reduced advanced imaging utilization by 10 percent to 20 percent and also reduced long-term growth trends. In order to ensure that we support the physician-patient relationship, we deliver excellent service. More than 70 percent of the requests we receive by phone or over the Web are approved in less than five minutes, and almost all requests are processed within 24 hours. Over the past five years, the satisfaction ratings that we have received from providers accessing our programs have been above 90 percent. We recently implemented a patient safety program that informs providers when they have ordered a radiation-emitting study for patients who have already received significant radiation from prior imaging. We are also working to engage provider organizations on issues of common ground such as promoting better imaging delivery and patient safety. In short, we deliver value and service across a wide membership base. While RBMs offer a proven solution, we believe that the effort to promote appropriate use of diagnostic imaging can best be achieved through continued innovation and adoption of multiple solutions. In several markets where AIM operates, we work in a complementary manner with provider groups that have implemented DSS, and as DSS continue to mature and their effectiveness is proven, we believe that they can serve as an effective complement to the services provided by RBM companies. The challenges facing the Medicare program and our healthcare system are too large to be solved by any single solution or by any single entity. Meeting these challenges will require an unprecedented level of collaboration and innovation among entities that have not worked together in the past. More than anything else, our ability to work together and act creatively will determine our success. | David Soffa, MD, MPA, FACR, is the senior vice president of medical affairs for American Imaging Management in Chicago. Questions and comments can be directed to editorial@rt-image.com. FREE ONLINE HEALTHCARE CAREER EVENT Major healthcare employers will be online to talk with you. NO TRAVEL INVOLVED • Live: May 19 - 20, 2009 • On Demand until June 19, 2009 www.evolutionsthroughhealthcare.com/rt |www.rt-image.com| May 4, 2009 | 11| EVOLUTIONS THROUGH HEALTHCARE |
