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8:00 AM- 9:30 AM
Breakout Sessions

You’ve Signed the Contract - So What’s Next?


Kimberley Garriott, PMP
Clarian Health Partners
Indianapolis, IN

Carlos Vasquez, CRA, MSM
Clarian Health Partners
Indianapolis, IN

This session generously sponsored by Clarian Health Partners.

You’ve just signed one of the largest contracts in your career. What are the next steps? How do you ensure that your project implementation is a success, on schedule and within budget? The game is changing and radiology technology projects are not straightforward equipment installations with a week of apps training anymore. Integrated PACS, RIS and VR solutions often make a significant impact on the entire enterprise. If they aren’t already, project management skills will soon be included in your job description and are an ever increasing essential for success. Learn how to define the scope of your project and control it; set expectations with vendors and senior management; identify and build an implementation team; and communicate creatively and effectively throughout your organization. This session will help you identify and apply the basic project management principles that will help you through a smooth implementation.

You will learn to:

• Identify project roles and responsibilities.
• Identify the scope of a project and how to contain “scope creep.”
• Set realistic expectations with vendor partners and senior management.
• Communicate creatively throughout your organization.

Successful PACS Implementation for the Imaging Center


John Griffith, CRA
Epic Imaging
Portland, OR

PACS is on the verge of defining radiology practices nationwide. Initially, PACS was the sole domain of university settings. Now more than ever, radiology practices are experiencing information explosion, and the need for electronic storage and data management of patients’ electronic imaging records. The future for imaging centers is not if you will get PACS, but when you will get PACS. This session will help you prepare your practice to make the next step. The PACS implementation process will be explained in detail. Topics covered will include: initial planning, vendor selection, installation planning, software-only solutions, hardware selection, and staff training. Review of DICOM basics and what is a DICOM header will be covered as well.

You will learn to:

• Understand why it is not wise to implement PACS without a RIS.
• Prepare your existing equipment for PACS.
• Read a DICOM header and why this is important.
• Perform calculations for your annual data requirements.
• Define what to ask for in vendor negotiations.
• Look out for real-life pitfalls in the implementation process.

Improving the Bottom Line: Establishing a Denials Management Program


Patricia Kroken, BS, FACMPE, CRA
Healthcare Resource Providers, LLC
Albuquerque, NM

This session will explore the important role of denials management in maximizing revenue and improving financial performance. The speaker will describe the concept of denials management and explain why such a program is important. Examples of denials management successes will be discussed. The session will also cover the steps involved in setting up and maintaining a successful denials management program.

You will learn to:

• Identify problems resulting from a failure to manage denials.
• Understand the concept of denials management and how it can help financial performance.
• Define the steps requires to set up and maintain a denials management program.

The ABCD’s of Hiring the Right Person for the Job


Kenneth R. Cohen, PhD
The Synergy Organization
Bensalem, PA

Several surprising truths will be shared about the real financial and practical impact of your hiring decisions on your organization and on your own career. Some of this will be taken from extensive, national research studies with 80 of the most effective acute care Presidents/CEOs in the US. In addition, the participants will learn how their personal preferences and interpersonal style affect productivity, how to discover their own hiring “blind spots”, and we will discuss the “Dirty Dozen” – The 12 Deadly Sins of Hiring. The speaker will identify different types of people and how to recognize them before you hire them and discuss some proven, practical strategies to improve your hiring effectiveness.

You will learn to:

• Identify 12 common mistakes that most people make when making hiring decisions.
• Describe more effective ways of avoiding hiring mistakes.
• Identify the direct and indirect costs of your hiring decisions.

PACS Administration and Project Management

Mark A. Struthers, BBA, BSRT, RT(R)(MR)
The Advanced Health Education Center, Houston, TX

One question that often occurs in PACS circles is “Who would make a better PACS Administrator, a person with an information technology (IT) background or a person with a radiologic technology background?” In reality, the best choice for a PACS Administrator is someone with an administrative background, project management skills, and knowledgeable in RT and IT functions! Administrative skills required to implement and manage a PACS are often assumed to be inherent in the education or training of technical people (which is often untrue). PACS has been proven to make a dramatic impact upon the physical and cultural environment of the enterprise that must be managed prior to, during, and after the acquisition of the PACS. This presentation discusses PACS management, PACS project management, and the role of PACS in the integrated health care enterprise.

You will learn to:

• Discuss integration and connectivity in the enterprise information system.
• Relate the differences between management skills and technical skills required in PACS administration.
• Distinguish between PACS management and project management
• List those departments that should be part of the PACS project management team.
• List the segments of a project life cycle.

Education and the Developing Role of the Radiologist Assistant


Gladys Montane, MA, RT(R)(M)
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Health Related Professions
Newark, NJ

Historically, radiologic technology has offered its practitioners few career advancement opportunities within their field. RTs lack a career path to advance within their profession. They often cross train in different imaging modalities in order to increase pay and variety in the actual work performed. The RT seeking to advance academically inevitably has to educate himself or herself in a direction that leads him or her away from the clinical setting. The establishment of a radiologist assistant will provide a formal career pathway in the clinical environment. This career pathway benefits the profession in several ways. First, it fosters continued professional development. Second, it encourages longevity by providing individuals with tangible rewards for pursuing additional education or credentialing; and finally, it makes radiologic technology a more attractive option for prospective applicants. This session will explore the development of the profession, it role, where it is today and where it is going.

You will learn to:

• Identify the role of the radiologist assistant.
• Identify the needs with in the profession that a radiologist assistant can fulfill.
• Identify the challenges facing radiologist assistants.

10:00 AM- 11:00 AM
Breakout Sessions

A Radiology Primer for Access, Billing and Compliance


Jeff Schaefer, MHA, CNMT, RT
University Medical Center
Tucson, AZ

Angela Eby, MBA
University Medical Center
Tucson, AZ

Rosalie Fowler, MHSA, MS
University Medical Center
Tucson, AZ

This presentation will discuss the process used for the management of existing procedures and the preparations to add new procedures or services at a large medical center. This will include the development of a business plan used by the organizational decision makers. Finally, the creation of a Billing Compliance Plan, an integral part of all the actions involved in ordering, reporting and billing, will also be presented.

You will learn to:

• Evaluate new services and manage radiology services to ensure payment and compliance.
• Develop a process to manage a chargemaster and avoid denials.
• Identify topics needed to create your own Radiology Billing Compliance Plan.

The Language of Leadership: Overcoming Obstacles to Accountability


Jenifer Madson, BA
Wealth Journeys, LLC
Erie, CO

Leaders need accountability from their colleagues. Colleagues need clarity from their leaders. Oftentimes, the challenge of accountability to any goal lies in the communication gap between the contributors to that goal. Assumptions, underlying belief systems and plain-old limiting language get in the way of achieving the objectives that are most important to the relationship or company, leading to weakness of purpose and results. This session will cover 5 concrete steps to accountability, teaching each participant how to articulate and assert their needs, align the proper teams to the goal and take measurable action, all of which leads to easy accountability.

You will learn to:

• Author an internal “success scenario.”
• Assert your objectives and goals.
• Be in alignment with key partners to ensure accountability.

Strategies for Contracting with Workers’ Compensation Payor Outsourcing Companies (aka “Brokers”)


Stephen P. Ellerman, BS, MS
One Call Medical, Inc.
Parsippany, NJ

This session generously sponsored by One Call Medical, Inc.

Current state workers’ compensation laws allow for strong steerage of patients. As other lines of business diminish, many facilities are interested in increasing their workers’ compensation revenue. Over the last several years many payor outsourcing companies (aka “brokers”) have entered the marketplace. Positioning your facility with payor outsourcing companies can increase your facility’s workers’ compensation line of business. This session is applicable to both hospitals and freestanding imaging centers.

You will learn to:

• Understand if partnering with managed care organizations can work for your facility.
• Negotiate contracts more effectively.
• Increase referrals from your workers’ compensation line of business.

Equipment Management: The Good, the Bad and the Effective


Daniel O’Neill
USCS, a Business Unit of Thermo Electron
Brookfield, WI

This session generously sponsored by USCS, a Business Unit of Thermo Electron.

This session will discuss the essential elements of effective equipment management, defining how to identify the elements and measure results. A look into common mistakes and vendor tactics that result in increased costs will allow the attendee to proactively place some checks and balances into their day-to-day operations. Examples of effective practices that are working in radiology departments across the U.S. as well as insights into why these practices are working will provide attendees with immediate comparison points for their departments and new ideas to implement in their operations.

You will learn to:

• Understand the key elements of effective equipment management practices.
• Identify and eliminate costly pitfalls.
• Increase knowledge of effective, proven practices within a peer group, and implement similar strategies.

Developing an MRI Safety Program for Emergency Response Personnel


Frank B. Panzarella, MHSA
RCG Healthcare Consulting
Boston, MA

Sherry Piskadlo, RT(R)(MR)
Massachusetts General Hospital MRI
Boston, MA

This session generously sponsored by RCG Healthcare Consulting.

In the US there are approximately 9,000 MRI scanners, and that number is growing at a rate of 8%-10% per year. Providers of MRI services across the country are also increasing utilization (ie, throughput) at a rate of 5%-6% per year. The expansion of MRI services is occurring not only in the hospital setting, but in our communities at outpatient imaging sites located in clinics, medical office buildings, even shopping malls. With each passing day the need for proactive magnet safety grows in importance. While most MRI sites conduct some basic level of training for personnel working in the MRI area, the majority have not recognized that there is a set of individuals outside of the hospital who may have a need to enter an MRI site. Specifically, emergency response personnel such as firefighters may be called upon to respond to an MRI incident, yet they are unaware of the unseen dangers an MRI presents. This session is designed for radiology administrators, outpatient imaging center managers, MRI operations managers, or patient safety officers who wish to develop a comprehensive education and training program on MRI safety, targeted at emergency response personnel.

You will learn to:

• Develop, organize and conduct educational training sessions on MRI safety for emergency response personnel in your community, including firefighters, EMS, and police.
• Document and convey the protocols, procedures, and other information about your MRI operations that are critical to the safety of emergency personnel responding to an MRI incident.
• Leverage the MRI training program in a way that maximizes its public relations benefit and bolsters your JCAHO proactive risk management efforts.

RHIO Integration - Are You Ready?


Danny L. Meadows, CRA
Integrated Healthcare Solutions
Birmingham, AL

The speaker will provide an introduction/overview of the formation and implementation of a Regional Healthcare Information Organization (RHIO) along with a review of how local healthcare organizations will integrate into the service.  In particular, the session will focus on imaging-specific integration for both data and DiCom image exchange.  The session will cover several models that have been deployed in the US thus far and review how successful they have been.  Finally, steps that organizations should be taking today to be prepared for the coming Electronic Healthcare Record project will be discussed.

You will learn to:

• Understand the national Electronic Healthcare Record project.
• Define what an RHIO is.
• Understand how the Electronic Healthcare Record project may impact local facilities in relation to medical records and PACS.
• Define steps that need to be taken in preparation for the project.

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Closing Luncheon and Keynote

How to Leave The Office Earlier!


Laura Stack

This session generously sponsored by Bracco.

Successful people don't trade personal satisfaction for professional achievement. They know high performance depends on both. To avoid the peaks and valleys of productivity created by balancing the urgent demands of work and personal life, professionals must be able to balance both without sacrificing either. Good leaders understand that time management is not about squeezing more into their days; it is about you and your people spending time productively toward the accomplishment of organizational goals.

You will learn to:

• Avoid organizational "speed bumps"
• Eliminate activities that waste your time and the time of your people
• Model effective time management behavior