Sunday, July 21 - Wednesday, July 24
Sunday, July 21 |
Monday, July 22 |
Tuesday, July 23 |
Wednesday, July 24
CE Information: ARRT Category A Continuing Education (CE) credit
will be available at the AHRA Annual Meeting and
Exposition. CE credit for states with licensure for
radiologic technologists will also be available. The
number of credits per session will be listed in the
onsite program book.
AHRA will be using an electronic tracking system
for CE credits at the 2019 Annual Meeting. The bar
code on your badge will be scanned as you enter a
session and as you leave the session. You must get
BOTH scans in order to receive CE credit. Since the
bar code on your badge tracks your attendance,
you can only get CE credit if you have your badge
with you at the session! Each night you will receive
an e-mail listing the sessions you attended and
the number of credits you received that day. This
e-mail will also include links to online session
evaluations—please make sure you complete the
evaluations! After the conference you will receive
an e-mail listing your complete attendance history
and number of credits earned. More details about
the CE tracking system will be provided in the
onsite program book.
Session Handouts: AHRA will post session handouts on its website
1-2 weeks before the start of the conference so
attendees may print the handouts for the sessions
they wish to attend in advance and bring them to
the conference. Notes sections are also available in
the onsite program book.
Practice Management Track: Presentation topics and speakers were
identified to create a robust educational program
designed to address the real-life challenges faced
by today’s radiology practice managers and hospital
administrators. Practice Management presentations
are highlighted by the PM icon
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Siemens Healthineers Exhibitor Symposium - Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Advanced Imaging & Precision Medicine
Wesley Gilson and Peter Shen
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
Challenges and Opportunities for Radiology to Prove Value in Alternative Payment Models
John Carrino, MD, MPH - Vice Chairman - Radiology and Imaging, Hosptial for Special Surgery
To control soaring health care costs, payers are increasingly implementing reforms that have a dampening effect on imaging use (the effect of these reforms can be expected to grow with time). Shift from volume-based to value-based practice. Radiologists should work to eliminate inappropriate imaging use by educating referring clinicians and engaging more directly in test selection and protocol refinement. Radiologists should show the value of their work through comparative effectiveness research, by developing and implementing measurable performance standards, and performance improvement. Adjusting to the complexity of value-based payment systems and population health management will require flexibility, experimentation, and collaboration with other disciplines.
You will learn to:
• Describe efforts at cost and quality control that affect imaging.
• Define healthcare value (over volume).
• Assess the impact of professional branding.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Workplace Violence - Now a Compliance Issue
Marie Fredrick, RT(R), CRA, MJ - SVP, Mary Washington Healthcare
Workplace violence is an issue in a variety of workplaces. Healthcare is not immune to this threat. The amount of assaults increased 13% from 2009 to 2010 in healthcare settings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OSHA defines workplace violence as:" any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. It can affect and involve workers, clients, customers and visitors". A growing number of healthcare entities have come under scrutiny by OSHA for failure to protect their employees from known acts of violence. The citations from OSHA can be quite costly and result in an action plan to be completed. Recently, both CMS and the Joint Commission have weighed in on this increasing threat. Both agencies have either required or strongly suggested measures to put into place to decrease the threat of violence to healthcare workers. This lecture will include discussion of the problem as well as the regulatory requirements to assure that all steps have been taken to assure compliance. Attendees will come away with an enhanced understanding of steps to take to assure a safe work environment.
You will learn to:
• Understand the definition of workplace violence.
• Have an awareness of the regulatory implications as a leader.
• Be able to develop strategies to keep employees safe and remain compliant.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Fear, Hope, and Hype of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging
Woojin Kim, MD - CMIO, Nuance Communications
This session is generously sponsored by Nuance Communications
Nowadays, you may encounter several articles on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging every week, and it is clear that it is one of the hottest topics in medical imaging today. Therefore, it is crucial for those in medical imaging management to understand this technology and its applications within our field. When it comes to understanding AI in medical imaging, one needs to appreciate the fear, hope, and hype of this technology. First, there is the fear factor as evidenced by many medical students, radiology trainees, and radiologists asking if they will be replaced by AI in the near future, which is further fueled by AI experts and articles with eye-catching titles. However, this presentation will explain why even some of the world experts in AI are wrong when it comes to their opinion of AI in radiology. Second, there is hope when it comes to what AI can do for our specialty. We will review the basics of AI, and then we will explore the current state of AI in radiology. Third, we will examine hype versus reality when it comes to AI technology both outside radiology as well as within radiology. The current AI research is heavily focused on using AI for image interpretation. This presentation will examine the use of AI both within image interpretation as well as beyond and how it can benefit the entire imaging value chain to benefit both medical imaging professionals and our patients.
You will learn to:
• Recognize fear and hype surrounding AI in medical imaging and its current state.
• Differentiate hype vs. reality when it comes to AI technology
• Examine the use of AI in image interpretation and beyond and how AI can benefit both medical imaging professionals and our patients.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Coding & Billing Compliance - What Does That Really Mean?
Melody W. Mulaik, MSHS - President, Coding Strategies, Inc.
This session is generously sponsored by Coding Strategies, Inc.
There are many areas where the term compliance is used which can create confusion for many administrators. Isn't coding and billing compliance something that someone else worries about? Not necessarily, there are many areas of concern that originate from the imaging department and it is critical that everyone understand the rules and their role in ensuring compliance for the organization. Specific areas of concerns such as supervision, orders, ABNs, edits and more will be discussed in detail to ensure attendees have the information that they need to feel comfortable with addressing compliance concerns within their organization.
You will learn to:
• Understand an overview of current radiology specific compliance concerns including unbundling, edits, supervision, orders and more.
• Understand how radiology coding/billing is different from other specialties/departments and discuss key areas of concern to avoid compliance concerns.
• Ensure attendee questions and concerns are addressed through an interactive Q&A portion of the session.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Comprehensive Stroke: A Quality Improvement Journey
Marjory Savino, CRA, BS, RT, R.M - Quality PI/PC Manager, Montefiore Medical Center
We were already a primary stroke center when the Joint Commission came out with a new advanced certification called “Comprehensive Stroke Center. We had three months to prepare before we had a visit for the designation which would greatly impact our patients and revenue. This project is aligned with the strategic goals of the hospital administration. This presentation demonstrates our journey in Radiology as a critical piece in the comprehensive stroke process. Using the LEAN Methodology for process improvement, we looked at the barriers, challenges within this multi-discipline and prioritize our focus so we could streamline and create an environment of a team. Our focus was to improve the patient arrival into the angio suite to groin puncture.
We embarked on a formal process improvement (PI) initiative with the outcome measure,” angio arrival to groin puncture”. This involved team formation, assessment of the in room process and identified other areas of improvement. Process measures like inventory prep, patient prep, line prep and room prep technique. We will share with you our process to decrease, motion (inventory prep) and how we achieved our defect number from eight to one for stroke tray set up along with reducing the waste of time. This is the first phase of this process and will have other phases completed prior to the meeting to share.
You will learn to:
• Use the PDSA cycle within the Lean Six Sigma paradigm for process improvement.
• Process mapping.
• Understand the importance of multidisciplinary team.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Laughing to Ease the Pain: The Role of Humor in Patient Comfort
David Jacobson, MSW, LCSW, CHP, Banner University Medical Center
This presentation discusses the role therapeutic humor plays in healing and coping with health issues and everyday stress. It reveals humor strategies that anyone can use to improve their health. This presentation begins with the presenter’s story of being in critical condition at age 22 and a diagnosis of rheumatic fever and severe arthritis and a humorous interaction that lead to a life transforming event. The physiological, psychological and social benefits of using therapeutic humor will be explained. Research on appropriate, healthy humor and inappropriate, unhealthy humor will also be discussed. The final part will discuss and apply humor strategies that anyone can learn to use either as patients or health care providers.
You will learn to:
• Gain an understanding of the role therapeutic humor can play in coping with illness.
• Explain the physiological, psychological and social benefits of using therapeutic humor.
• Discuss and apply humor strategies that can be utilized to enhance ones use of therapeutic humor.
Domains: CI, OM
Credits: 1
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Beverage Break
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
Order Matters - Implementing the Imperatives of a High Reliability Organization (HRO)
John J. Beall, BSHS, FAHRA - Senior Clinical NCO, Deputy Commander Patient Support, Madigan Army Medical Center
In 1999 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a landmark review, “To Err is Human” where it revealed statistics of an alarming death rate of 98,000 people dying each year as a result of medical errors. This rate exceeded the combined number of deaths from motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, and AIDs to become the eight largest cause of death in the U.S. annually. Fourteen years later in 2013, Mark Chassin and Jerod Loeb (The Joint Commission) released their “High-Reliability Health Care: Getting There from Here” where they discussed that despite the “widespread efforts to improve the quality of health care” we as an industry were still having patients suffering from preventable harm.
In 2014, former Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Chuck Hagel ordered the first enterprise review in the history of the Military Health System (MHS) covering the Army, Navy and Air Force. This review of the MHS accessed whether 1) quality of health care in the MHS meets or exceeds defined benchmarks and 2) has the MHS created a culture of safety with effective processes for ensuring safe and reliable care of beneficiaries. The final report shaped the framework for the MHS to combine the concepts of an integrated health care system with the principles of HRO. During this session the presenter will show you what the MHS has done to set it on the path to becoming an HRO and discuss what has been discovered when combing the three distinct services during this journey.
You will learn to:
• Understand why healthcare should strive to become an HRO.
• Understand what are the imperatives of an HRO?
• Understand about the US Army's journey towards becoming and HRO and see how they are helping the to shape the Military Health System's approach to healthcare.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Joint Commission Update: Diagnostic Imaging Services Standards, Survey Results
Andrea D. Browne, PhD, DABR - Diagnostic Medical Physicist, The Joint Commission
This session repeats on Tuesday at 4:15 pm
This session will review TJC standards that apply to diagnostic imaging. There will be an emphasis on the actions required by the fluoroscopy standards that became effective 1/1/2019. Summary data will be presented of the elements of performance scored on survey in 2018 through first quarter of 2019 that apply to imaging. Descriptive comments from surveyors will be shared. Areas to consider for performance improvement will be discussed. A question and answer period will be provided.
You will learn to:
• List the chapters in which requirements for diagnostic imaging services reside.
• List the actions required by the fluoroscopy standards effective 1/1/2019
• Describe the most scored standards and elements of performance in 2018.
• List specific observations and the RFIs that resulted.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
The Art of Managing Workplace Conflict
Mario Rodriguez, MS - Leadership Consultant, Integrated Leadership Systems, ILS
This session is generously sponsored by Integrated Leadership Systems, ILS
When its poorly managed conflict can hamper productivity and lower moral, however, conflict itself isn’t the problem. When managed well, conflict helps people to benefit from different perspectives, sparks creativity, and helps us to raise and address challenges in our organization. In this workshop you will practice and use mindfulness to become more emotionally intelligent and learn how to use question your dysfunctional beliefs about conflict. You will also have the opportunity to practice assertiveness and other relational skills that help in communicating effectively during conflict.
You will learn to:
• Question our dysfunctional beliefs about conflict.
• Listen and speak more mindfully during conflict.
• Have an improved ability to communicate effectively when facing conflict.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Don't Let Any Money Slip Away
Melody W. Mulaik, MSHS - President, Coding Strategies, Inc.
This session is generously sponsored by Coding Strategies, Inc.
This session will discuss the charge capture processes and where opportunities for system break-downs can occur. Given the current state of reimbursement no organization can afford to forfeit their hard earned money. This session will discuss the charge capture process and how to conduct an effective operational review to make a positive impact in your organization!
You will learn to:
• Discuss the key elements of a charge capture operational review for all radiology stakeholders.
• Review key processes and identify effective methods for measuring accuracy and effectiveness in the charge capture process.
• Discuss realistic methods to make positive organization changes to improve the charge capture processes.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
How a Daily Management System Can Impact Process Improvement and Staff Engagement
Julie Anne Black, B.S., MDiv
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA
Daily Management System (DMS) is a Lean tool for process improvement to aid in identifying problems quickly. It empowers front-line staff to fix problems and provides a system to escalate more complex problems to leadership. Essential parts of a successful DMS include: Standard Work, Visual Controls, Daily Accountability.
DMS is an essential element to a successful Lean Management System.
In this session you will learn about the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Imaging department’s journey to create a successful DMS and how it has aided process improvement to achieve strategic goals. Creation of Visual Controls has aided in the ability to identify problems earlier. Daily huddles have engaged front-line staff and aided in group problem solving. Development of an escalation system has resulted in a standard method to respond to more serious problems. Having long term data has aided in debunking long held myths and provided a launching pad for business development opportunities. The focus has shifted from people to processes and using Deming’s P-D-C-A (Plan, Do, Check, Act) formula to create long term solutions
You will learn to:
• Identify the essential elements of a Daily Management System.
• Gain understanding on how to create an effective Daily Management System for your department.
• Explain how DMS can engage front line staff and create active problem solvers.
Domains: HR, OM, FM
CE Credits: 1.5
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Beverage Break
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Breakout Sessions
Key Performance Indicators to Promote Billing Integrity and Transparency
Sara Nofziger-Drew, CHBME, CPC, CPB - Director of Client Relations, HealthPro Medical Billing, Inc.
Megan Rodden - Director of Operations, HealthPro Medical Billing, Inc.
This session is generously sponsored by HealthPro Medical Billing, Inc.
You may think your team is working harder than ever, seeing more patients, delivering quality and compassionate service, yet your budget is shrinking because your collected receipts are down. You are probably given many reports but are they painting an accurate picture? Understanding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is integral to assessing the billing process and provides a solid foundation to benchmark results every month. In this session, we will review important KPIs and how they correlate to tracking the billing process and can help you identify areas of concern before they become a serious issue impacting your budget. Examples of industry standard calculations and formulas will be explained. Our focus will be on outpatient and professional component processes as well as free standing imaging centers. In the end, this session will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of what is needed to monitor your billing process and prepare you to identify potential issues by monitoring the KPI metrics.
You will learn to:
• Identify critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) necessary to know if your billing process is effective.
• Understand which KPIs to track, how to calculate them and what their importance is.
• Evaluate what story each KPI metric tells you independently and why it is crucial to review them collectively with your unique practice model in mind.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Liar, Liar Pants on Fire
Traci Brown, BS - Body Language and Fraud Prevention Expert, Traci Brown, Inc
Can You Tell When Someone is Lying?
Let Body Language Expert Traci Brown Show You How!
Are you winning the game of Two Truths and a Lie?
You play every day and don’t even know it.
Win the game with your team, clients, potential hires and vendors to dramatically improve your bottom line...and detect fraud before it happens.
Can you trust your team?
Can vendors really deliver what they promise? Are they lying over the negotiation table?
Are clients telling you all of their needs? Do they like the job you did?
Have potential hires inflated their resume? Are they really who they say they are in the first place?
And most importantly…How would your life change if you really knew what those closest to you were doing and not saying?
In this fast paced keynote you’ll learn how to use Traci’s system to separate the lies from the truth in today’s headlines...and in your own life so you’re never deceived again.
You can quit second guessing your instincts and immediately tell fact from fiction when you learn:
7 telltale signs someone is lying
Know which lies are important
Know which lies you should tell
Quickly uncover the truth
You will learn to:
• Examine 7 telltale signs someone is lying.
• Understand which lies are important & Know which lies you should tell
• Quickly uncover the truth.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Breast Density Inform and Insurance Laws: What Educational Tools Are Available?
JoAnn Pushkin, BBA - Executive Director, DenseBreast-info, Inc.
Over 88% of American women now live in states which require some level of density notification after their mammogram. Breast density notification may result in new patient discussions about the imaging and risk implications of dense tissue. DenseBreast-info.org is the only medically-sourced resource designed for both patients and health professionals with educational tools developed for both. Current scientific research about dense tissue, content analysis of state inform and insurance laws, and available patient and health care provider educational tools, are among topics to be presented.
You will learn to:
• Review recent research about the implications of dense tissue and recognize and address the need for patient and referring physician education.
• Review/Evaluate available educational tools on DB-I.org as educational aids at the clinical level
• Understand the difference in inform law requirements and what patients are or aren't being told and how that affects their understanding of the notification.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
The Stress of Safety: How Workplace Experiences Affect Patient Safety
Cheryl Turner, EdD, R.T., (R)(T) - Founder/Professor, Rad-Cast
According to a 2016 report by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)—TG100—many errors that occur in radiation oncology are not due to failure in devices and software, rather they are failures in workflow and process. Current national and international research indicates that workplace conditions such as busyness, understaffing, incivility, and disengagement may contribute to these failures. Failures in radiation therapy, and other modalities, may have catastrophic results including near misses and patient errors. The research contends that overworked and underprepared staff leads to distraction, depersonalization, and apathy. While not often directed towards patients, these signs of workplace stress and burnout have the potential to create unsafe situations in radiological sciences practices. Who or what holds responsibility for these actions and potential consequences? Radiological sciences professionals, including radiation therapists, cite lack of training and professional development, overwork, and disrespect/distrust as the most significant factors leading up to the possibilities of a patient mistake. How are these stressful working environments recognized and corrected? How have recent standards and principles in reimbursement and budgets contributed to these unsafe practices? This presentation will detail the findings in the TG100 report, review current research literature, and provide practical real-life instances in which the workplace environment proves to be a significant player in patient and professional safety.
You will learn to:
• Understand the concepts of patient safety and workplace conditions as reported by the AAPM-TG100.
• Describe clinical situations which may contribute to patient errors.
• Discuss recognition and corrective action applicable to negative workplace environments.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Providing Feedback: Setting Your Employees Up For Success
Jennifer Kirkman, MHA(c), CRA, BSRT(R)(VI) – Interventional Radiology Supervisor, Wesley Long Hospital
Providing effective feedback is essential for employee growth and success. Effective feedback consists on specific information the employee can understand to stay on the path to success. Providing negative feedback can be daunting for some leaders. This session takes a look into how to create a feedback message and how to deliver that message. There will be time built into the presentation for practicing creating feedback. Please reflect on your current concerns with your team that you can use during practice time. Have you been avoiding providing feedback? My goal is to send you home with a message that can be shared with the employee. We will also discuss what happens after the feedback when the behavior does and does not change. Our greatest resource is our people. We should be guiding them to success, instead of wondering when they will finally get a clue.
You will learn to:
• Learn what should and should not be included in feedback.
• Learn how to deliver the feedback message.
• Learn what to do after providing feedback does not solve the concern.
Domains: HR, CI
CE Credits: 1
5:45 PM - 6:30 PM
Welcome Reception for New Members and First-Time Attendees
This invitation only reception is a great way to get acquainted with AHRA. Connect with new colleagues and then join them at the President’s Reception, immediately following
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
President’s Reception
Greet your AHRA friends and meet new ones at the annual AHRA President’s Reception.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Continental Breakfast
7:45 AM - 8:45 AM
Exhibitor Symposium: Enhancing Patient Safety and Optimizing Efficiency in CT, MRI and Cath Labs: Integrating the Use of Contrast Media Dispensed in Prefilled Syringes
Douglas Boyd, RT (R) (MR)
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Grand Opening Ceremony & Keynote: Full Speed Ahead
Vince Poscente
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Exhibit Hall Open & Lunch served 12:00 - 1:30 PM
2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Breakout Sessions
Contemporary Imaging Management: An Immersive Dialogue
Speaker TBD
What do regional and national markets look like for imaging services? How will new technologies, staffing, reimbursement models affect us? This practical, yet thought provoking presentation is amplified through your real time participation. Harnessing real-time audience engagement tools, we will categorically review what the immediate and future professional horizon has in store for the imaging professional and market, and touch on management operational tools.
Learning Objectives:
• Review the current and looming hot button topics facing the imaging market and imaging manager
• Discuss proactive opportunities with peers for effective imaging leadership.
• Analyze opportunities shared for leading an dynamically evolving imaging market
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Developing a Capital Imaging Equipment Replacement Plan for an Enterprise Wide System
Stephan Lopez, MS - Corporate Director of Radiology, Baylor Scott & White Health
Brian Tindel, MBA, BSRS, RT(R) - Radiology Quality Manager, Baylor Scott & White Health
This session is generously sponsored by Baylor Scott & White Health
We have over $180m dollars of capital imaging equipment that is over 10 years old that we need to replace, how do we manage this when budgets are tight and effectively perform this project to support the needs of our system.
You will learn to:
• Develop a three to five year Capital Plan.
• Develop a Capital Imaging Committee.
• Develop System Standards on Equipment Specifications.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
ACR/Joint Commission: MR Safety Tips for Radiology Administrators
William Faulkner, B.S.,R.T.(R)(MR)(CT), FSMRT, MRSO (MRSC™ ) - Owner, William Faulkner & Associates, LLC
Kristan Harrington, MBA, RT(R)(MR), MRSO (MRSC™) - Consultant, William Faulkner & Associates
This session is generously sponsored by William Faulkner & Associates, LLC
The presentation will be tailored specifically for radiology administrators. Joint Commission has published MR safety guidelines. The Joint Commission is focusing more on MRI safety during their inspections. The JC guidelines are largely based on ACR recommendations. The ACR is now conducting a greater number of site audits. Topics presented will address areas that are a focus of both the JC and ACR. An example of such areas include staff training. This will detail recommendations for both non-MR and MR personnel. Site-related issues such as availability and efficient use of ferromagnetic detection and Zone demarcation will also be addressed. Logging of ferromagnetic incidents into Zone IV will also be addressed.
You will learn to:
• Name MR safety-related requirement of the Joint Commission.
• List areas which are likely to be covered during and ACR site audit.
• Describe key practices for the effective use of ferromagnetic detection.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Regulatory Update
Sheila M. Sferrella, MAS, CRA, RT(R), FAHRA - President, Regents Health Resources
Melody W. Mulaik, MSHS - President, Coding Strategies, Inc.
This session repeats on Tuesday at 4:15 pm
Healthcare regulatory changes continue to impact imaging administrators at a rapid pace affecting both compliance and reimbursement. This session will focus on proposed as well as finalized (if available) legislation and changes for 2019-2020. Clinical Decision Support (CDS), site-neutral payment, RRA/RPA supervision changes, as well as other key issues will be reviewed during this session. The operational impact to your organization will also be discussed as well as any relevant AHRA surveys to see how you compare with your colleagues.
You will learn to:
• Discuss key regulatory initiatives affecting imaging providers.
• Ensure attendees understand the short and long-term issues associated with regulatory changes.
• Ensure attendees are aware of existing and potential regulatory issues impacting reimbursement for hospitals, IDTFs and imaging centers.
Domains: CI, OM, FM
CE Credits: 1.5
Rowboats vs. Canoes: Tools for Forward-looking Capital Planning
Robert P. Junk, BS - President, RAD-Planning
Tobias Gilk, M.Arch, MRSO, MRSE, HSDQ - Sr. VP, RAD-Planning, Founder, Gilk Radiology Consultants
This session is generously sponsored by RAD-Planning
We're a data-driven industry. We look at what we did last month... last quarter... last year. We look at where we're pushing our capacity limits, and we start budget planning to buy that next CT, that next MRI, to try and keep 'just ahead' of demand, maximizing capacity. We look backwards (rowboat) to keep just ahead of the demands. But what about what's right over the horizon? We don't need to be fortune tellers to recognize large demographic trends. We can work, today, to position our hospitals and imaging centers to be ever more efficient in the months and years ahead. By looking forward (canoe) and making smart planning decisions with that information, we can put in place the tools that will help our facilities continuously improve the way that they facilitate patient care.
You will learn to:
• Use available data to map out trends and better anticipate 5-yera and 10-year needs for your facility and practice.
• Deploy 'universal' rooms which will allow you to quickly respond to new equipment or shifts in utilization patterns.
• Value strategic master plans that help you facilitate growth and minimize 'change-pain'.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
The Art of Leadership “From Now On”
Josh Block, President, Block Imaging
Everyday, we as leaders have conversations and make decisions that shape our organizations, teams and culture. In this session, we’ll seek to:
1. Equip - Dive into 5 tangible tools that each of us can grab onto daily as leaders
2. Encourage – Be reminded that leadership is not for the faint of heart but most certainly hard and worth it!
At this close of this session, we’ll scavenger hunt through a clip that’s second to none in the way that it stirs, equips and encourages leaders “from now on.”
You will learn to:
• Journal in detail your specific "why"
• List your "assumptions" and how they impact your work relationships
• Create a plan with steps to address and change
Domains: HR, CI
CE Credits: 1.5
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM: Beverage Break
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Breakout Sessions
Cardiac Imaging Can Assess Cardiovascular Risk in High Endurance Athletes
Holly Knaub, BAS, RT(R) CRA - Manager, UCHealth
Nate Bachman, BS, MS - Graduate Research Assistant, Colorado State Universtiy
It is widely accepted that regular aerobic exercise is beneficial for cardiovascular health. However, recent studies suggest that volumes of exercise that greatly exceed physical activity guidelines may be damaging to the heart. In this session, we will examine how cardiac imaging technology (echocardiography, CT, and MRI) can be used in conjunction with vascular research measurements to examine the influence of high-volume endurance training on cardiovascular health. We will also discuss lessons learned in scheduling and tracking test subjects.
You will learn to:
• Define why and how much aerobic exercise is beneficial to the Cardiovascular System.
• Examine evidence indicating high endurance athletes could be damaging their cardiovascular health.
• Understand how cardiac imaging can be used to determine any detrimental effects of high endurance training.
• Examine lessons learned in scheduling and tracking test subjects.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Successfully Implementing Digital Radiography Across a Regional Healthcare System
Elizabeth Evans, MBA, RT (R) - X-ray modality manager, AdventHealth
With the advent of Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 and changing reimbursements, healthcare providers have been incentivized to transition from X-ray film and computed radiography (CR), to Digital radiography (DR). DR provides many advantages over previous technologies with the potential for improved patient care, increased productivity and reduced dose. Since 2016 AdventHealth has installed 68 DR systems across multiple healthcare facilities in the Orlando area. This presentation will discuss the implementation of DR within the AdventHealth system. Specific quality and productivity improvement opportunities that were identified during and after the implementation of DR will be reviewed. How these improvements impacted patient care will also be discussed. A key finding was proper implementation, staff training and ongoing monitoring to maintain and improve performance is crucial to success. We will analyze how to properly prepare and plan for a successful DR implementation. Tools will be discussed to aid in identifying quality, productivity and patient care improvement opportunities. By establishing an ongoing quality monitoring and improvement program for digital radiography you will be able to optimize the workflow and productivity of the system.
You will learn to:
• Properly prepare and plan for a DR implementation.
• How to identify quality, productivity and patient care improvement opportunities available with DR.
• Establish an ongoing quality monitoring and improvement program for digital radiography.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
SuperTech: Essential Tools for Today's Technologists & Leaders
Joe Klaers, RT(R)(CT), MBA - Sr. Director Imaging Services, CentraCare Health System
This presentation is to expand on an article I wrote for the July/August 2018 Radiology Management magazine, titled "Supertech: Essential Tools for Today's Technologists". This presentation will be an interactive and exciting session to inspire the attendees to apply new skills. Today's technologists are no longer able to just take an image; they must do much more to ensure quality, safety, financial security, patient satisfaction, etc. Imaging leaders are no longer able to know all of the answers and solve all of the problems; they must allow their teams the automony to make decisions and solve problems. The session will highlight 12 different tools or roles that today's technologists and imaging leaders need to demonstrate in order for the future of imaging to thrive in the changing healthcare environment. The end of the session challenges the attendees to improve by using a 1 year challenge highlighting each of the 12 tools, one per month. This session is valuable for both technologists and leaders.
Presentation Outline:
•Background of past requirements of technologists
•Essential tools/skills needed by today’s technologists
•Application of the tools
•Challenge and inspire to improve
You will learn to:
• Gain an understanding of the essential skills and knowledge needed to be an effective technologist and leader in todays healthcare environment.
• Identify areas for self-improvement and understand a connection to purpose in your work.
• Apply learning to everyday activities.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
The Leadership Void: On the Hunt for Unicorns
Wendy J. Stirnkorb, CRA, MBA, RT R MR MRSO MRSC, HSDQ, PSG - Director of Imaging Services and Dean of the School of Radiology, Regional West Medical Center
Leadership is challenging. If it were easy, everyone would do it. As a result, we have a significant leadership void in Healthcare. Oh, we do not have a shortage of BODIES in leadership roles—we DO have, however, a shortage of people with exceptional leadership skills and training. We have a global scarcity of people with the ability to effectively, positively LEAD others toward a common goal or mission. Why are leaders of this caliber so elusive? Where are the unicorns hiding? And why, when we have the opportunity to grow and develop our own, do we tend to "eat our young"?
You will learn to:
• Discover your Unicorns and engage them.
• Develop your team in a positive fashion.
• Invest in your "keepers".
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Functional Flow Reserve CT: A New Frontier for Cross Collaboration
Ali Westervelt
Curt Bush, MBA, CRA, FAHRA, FACHE - Director of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Imaging Services, Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center
Is it radiology or cardiology? That question is becoming more and more prevalent as the two service lines become more integrated. As radiology and cardiovascular work to improve interoperability, the need for collaboration is even more necessary. Functional flow reserve CT has been around for a few years, and has recently been approved by CMS for reimbursement. Working with cardiology leadership, it is important that we as imaging leaders understand the costs and benefits to our own operations. As a patient centered work force, it is also important that we are using the tools available to perform the right exam at the right time for the right patient. FFRct has been proven to reduce unnecessary admissions, and avoid unnecessary testing in nuclear medicine and cardiac catheterization labs. Operationalizing a CTA program to utilize FFRct is one aspect, however, having it function efficiently to not reduce capacity necessary for your other CT operation presents a new set of challenges. So are we really asking is it radiology or cardiology, or are we at a point now where we are all imaging?
You will learn to:
• Understand the real value of FFRct.
• Develop an effective CTA program, while increasing capacity to provide efficient CTA and FFRct.
• Develop an exceptional relationship with cardiology to promote a unified imaging service line.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Exhibitor Symposium: A New Perspective on Risk Management in MR Contrast
Nick Argy MD, JD - Consultant, Bracco
John Karis, MD - Director of Neuroradiology, The Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix AZ
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: CRA Alumni Reception
7:15 AM - 8:15 AM: Continental Breakfast
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Exhibitor Symposium: 2019 Imaging Market Outlook
Stuart Clark, BA – Managing Director and National Spokesperson, The Advisory Board
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
Breakout Sessions
The Many Languages of Data
Stefanie A. Manack, CRA, MS, BS, AAS, R.T. (R)(M)(VI) - Operations Manager, Imaging, Accumen
Judy Zakutny, AAS - Operations Manager, Imaging, Accumen
This session is generously sponsored by Accumen
Efficiency. Process Improvement. Performance. Utilization. Staffing Optimization. Turnaround times. Error rates. Each of these play a vital role in measuring overall Quality and Service in every Imaging department. These vital processes also rely on data to show us current state, identify opportunities for improvement, drive change, and measure and celebrate our successes. Even the best efforts to track, measure and improve operations can fall short before they even begin when the data is in one language and the goal in another. In this session, we will help you identify the various languages that data speaks, how to probe for the details around the end goal, and how to speak your stakeholder’s data language to ensure that the outside influencers understand your data, your goal and ultimately support your initiatives.
You will learn to:
• How to efficiently and effectively find the common data language when speaking with Stakeholders.
• Ask the right questions and translate data requests into the language that meets YOUR goals by getting to WHY.
• Successfully communicate using the right “language” with consultants and outside influencers to accomplish YOUR data goals.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Forensic Accounting in Radiology Administration - Are You Being Looted from Within?
Ron Jones, MSRS, RT (R,CT) - Regional Director of Imaging, St Luke's Magic Valley
Your Capital is hemorrhaging! Stop the bleeding!
There are hundreds of ways to be pilfered from within your own department. Join me as I show you the numerous shenanigans I have uncovered during my decades in the imaging field.
Shady Staff:
• Excessive No Lunch punches
• Phone work
• APOC call and backup call for on-call
• Callback for staying to finish patient on shift
• Two techs on call at the same time
• Completed exams to trash (no Rev generated or widget)
• Scanning friends and family for free
• Transferring patients to take time off, increases cost
Timecard Abuse:
• Bereavement for Grandma's sister's neighbor
• Secondary job codes that aren’t vetted
• Sum Total – claiming more than actual
• Two callbacks for two pts ordered at the same time
• Clocking in 8 minutes early, 8 minutes late
• Charge Pay – only after supervisor gone >24 hours & w/prior approval
• Excessive meetings, not attended
• Special Pay – work it into your job descriptions that Tech 3 include charge etc
• PTO hours submitted >shift hours worked
And the list goes on and on! By the end of this presentation, I will show you how I saved over $150K per year in one critical access hospital...all while enhancing work/life balance of staff, improving exam TATs and providing better patient care.
You will learn to:
• Understand where to Look for the Leakage - Budgets, TASS, Productivity Tools.
• Understand how to Stop the Bleeding - Adaptability & Efficiency with Standard Work.
• Sustain and be Strategic - Stop Gaps and Spot Checks.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
The Customer Is Always Right! Right?
ALAN MORETTI, N/A - VP Advanced Imaging and Radiation Oncology, RENOVO SOLUTIONS LLC
This session is generously sponsored by RENOVO SOLUTIONS LLC
As it may be said in the Imaging community, 30% of job is imaging the patient while 70% is the personal interaction with people! Is the customer always right? The business world tells us "YES" but in reality not always. Who is the customer? Clearly the patient and family would be the logical first reaction answer but are they the only customers as an imaging professional you serve or interact with in the delivery of patient care? The ability for one to recognize and know how to apply customer service situational thinking and response soft skills in the patient care setting, office and other areas of the clinical landscape are crucial.
This session will explore the soft skills of listening, critical thinking as well as techniques in rationalizing with the customer when situations may become difficult. This session is a "must for your customer service tool kit". Its these highly important and often not emphasized "soft skills" in staff development and training all Imaging professionals regardless of position or daily duties can reach back to in resource to aid their everyday work interactions with the many customers they serve.
You will learn to:
• Assess your own current customer soft skill knowledge.
• Understand the suggested soft skill techniques that can enable and aid in diffusing awkward customer interactions.
• Develop potential new personal skills in listening and responding when interacting with your many customers.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Shanghaied by FEMA : Emergency Preparedness Gone Bad
Wendy J. Stirnkorb, CRA, MBA, RT R MR MRSO MRSC, HSDQ, PSG - Director of Imaging Services and Dean of the School of Radiology, Regional West Medical Center
Hurricanes, tornados, volcanoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes happen all over the world and they have devastating impacts of the lives of everyone affected. This includes the facilities that are often most needed during these disasters—healthcare facilities. How can you be best prepared? What happens when the decision is made to evacuate? What happens to the equipment left behind? What if, in the United States, FEMA determines to use your facility as a base of operations?
You will learn to:
• Prepare your imaging department for natural and unnatrual disasters.
• Develop a staffing plan for disasters.
• Craft a practice plan specific to Imaging for disasters.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Lessons Learned in Adopting Clinical Decision Support Systems
Ernie A. Cerdena, PhD, CRA, FACHE, FAHRA - Corporate Director of Radiology Services, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center
Clinical Decision System Mechanism connects clinicians with evidence-based guidance directly in their ordering workflow, helping to improve quality of care and increase patient safety by eliminating inappropriate or unnecessary imaging studies. As part of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), beginning January 2020, CMS will require ordering providers to consult Appropriateness Use Criteria (AUC) and provide proper documentation for billing and reimbursements of advanced imaging studies. By 2021, those ordering physicians that are non-compliant will be required to obtain preauthorization and face reimbursement denials. This session will serve as an avenue to share the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's CDSM implementation as an early adaptor.
You will learn to:
• Recognize the pitfalls and accomplishments of Clinical Decision Support Mechanism (CDSM) early adoption.
• Explain the common barriers of CDSM interoperability with hospital electronic health record (EHR) and standardization of flow of information.
• Develop an understanding of the key performance indicators available within the CDSM system.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM: Beverage Break
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
General Session & Keynote: Success: It's On You
Ross Shafer
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Exhibit Hall Open & Lunch served 12:00 - 1:30 PM
2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Breakout Sessions
Washington Update
Bill Finerfrock, BA - President, Capitol Associates, Inc.
Presenter finalizing program. Details coming soon.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Take Back Your Life! Personal Productivity
Steven Crawford, MBA - Director / Senior Consultant, McGhee Productivity Solutions
This session is generously sponsored by McGhee Productivity Solutions
Three Big Things - for personal productivity. From our Take Back Your Life! program. This highly impactful session is designed to enable professionals to dramatically increase their productivity while creating greater balance in life. This program supports participants in creating an approach to using Microsoft Outlook to manage their constant stream of communication, tasks and projects. Participants will gain insights to help spark behavioral change and adoption of proven productivity principles. This session is an opportunity for leaders to create greater levels of empowerment in their role. By the end of this dynamic program, participants will experience a sense of control through an organized, focused approach to their objectives, projects and action steps. Key issues addressed include: e-mail overwhelm, reducing interruptions and integrating personal and professional priorities.
You will learn to:
• Managing Interruptions.
• Managing eMail.
• Have The Weekly Review.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Latest Joint Commission & ACR MRI Safety Accreditation Requirements
Tobias Gilk, M.Arch, MRSO, MRSE, HSDQ - Sr. VP, RAD-Planning, Founder, Gilk Radiology Consultants
This session is generously sponsored by Gilk Radiology Consultants
Whether you're planning new MRI facilities / equipment, or simply maintaining longstanding services, changes in the requirements governing the two most popular accreditation regimes, the Joint Commission (TJC) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) will shift the expectations on you, as a provider. This session will look specifically at the changes in accreditation standards for the two 'big dog' accreditation providers as they affect MRI providers. From initial accreditation, to periodic reviews, the standards that govern MRI safety have changed, and are expected to continue changing. We'll be looking at the specific written MRI safety criteria for accreditation, as well as the criteria that surveyors or renewal reviewers will be looking for. We will also look at the updated ACR Guidance Document for MR Safety with an eye towards new safety recommendations that are likely to become accreditation standards. Lastly, we'll look at which codes and standards require changes to existing facilities or practices, and which ones only require changes in the future.
You will learn to:
• Differentiate the requirements of accreditation criteria vs. codes and standards.
• Identify the particular changes in MRI safety as they apply to both TJC and ACR accreditation.
• Distinguish explicit accreditation requirements from surveyor / reviewer interpretations.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Coding Tips & Traps
Melody W. Mulaik, MSHS - President, Coding Strategies, Inc.
This session is generously sponsored by Coding Strategies, Inc.
This session will include an overview of radiology-specific coding and compliance risks including new technologies, appropriate utilization of new codes introduced in 2019 and other top radiology coding and compliance concerns.
Potential audit concerns, including supervision, orders and coding responsibility, will also be discussed to identify potential opportunities for improvement in system operations.
Sufficient time will be designated during the session to ensure that session participants have ample opportunity to have their coding questions and/or concerns addressed.
You will learn to:
• Understand an Overview of current radiology procedure coding risks including unbundling, payor audit targets and confusing codes.
• Review procedure coding updates for 2019 as well as key areas of concern
• Ensure attendee coding questions are addressed through an interactive Q&A portion of the session.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Academia Collaboration for Success in the Changing Landscape of Global Health Care
Carole A. South-Winter, Ed.D., CNMT, RT, FAEIRS - Assistant Professor, University of South Dakota
Systems continue to realize the impact of globalization and potential employees are expected to possess the skills to operate in such an environment. The burden of responsibility to supply these employees is generated from higher education. Universities are called to “equip students with the skills necessary to become inter-culturally competent and globally aware citizens” (BrckaLorenz & Gieser, 2011, p. 1). Educators are tasked with creating and adjusting courses to prepare graduates with knowledge, skills, and commitment to human rights and the common good which will inspire them to innovate, compete, and succeed in a global workplace as leaders. One university partnered with a health system to provide valuable research to guide decision-making purposes a world way.
You will learn to:
• Identify challenges as systems increase global footprint.
• Provide solutions to challenges of opening a clinic in a developing country.
• Appreciate the importance of sustainability in identification of prospective initiatives.
• Explore partnerships in academia to provide data to drive decisions.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM: Beverage Break
4:15 PM - 5:45 PM
Breakout Sessions
Achieving ACR Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence Designation
Melissa C. Martin, M.S., FACR, FAAPM - President, Therapy Physics Inc
Joyce Timko, MBA, CRA, RT(R)(M)(CT) - Director, Diagnostic Imaging, Orange Regional Medical Center
Demonstrate to your patients, payors and referring physicians that your facility is committed to providing the safest and best quality care by achieving accreditation by the American College of Radiology as a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence. To achieve this distinction includes an onsite comprehensive assessment of the medical center facility and staff including outcomes and structure. The assessment is conducted by a radiologist, a certified medical physicist and a staff technologist from the ACR Headquarters. All modalities must be ACR accredited to apply for this distinction. This session cover items that are surveyed by the on-site team presented by an experienced reviewer and preparation strategies by a Director of Imaging from a facility which achieved this accreditation status on the first attempt with no deficiencies.
You will learn to:
• Prepare your facility for an on-site assessment for accreditation for Imaging Excellence.
• Prepare your staff for questioning of the policies and procedures used in your facility to meet accreditation requirements.
• Be aware of the committment level needed by all levels of leadership in the facility to achieve accreditation as a Center of Excellence.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Regulatory Update - REPEAT
Sheila M. Sferrella, MAS, CRA, RT(R), FAHRA - President, Regents Health Resources
Melody W. Mulaik, MSHS - President, Coding Strategies, Inc.
Healthcare regulatory changes continue to impact imaging administrators at a rapid pace affecting both compliance and reimbursement. This session will focus on proposed as well as finalized (if available) legislation and changes for 2019-2020. Clinical Decision Support (CDS), site-neutral payment, RRA/RPA supervision changes, as well as other key issues will be reviewed during this session. The operational impact to your organization will also be discussed as well as any relevant AHRA surveys to see how you compare with your colleagues.
You will learn to:
• Discuss key regulatory initiatives affecting imaging providers.
• Ensure attendees understand the short and long-term issues associated with regulatory changes.
• Ensure attendees are aware of existing and potential regulatory issues impacting reimbursement for hospitals, IDTFs and imaging centers.
Domains: CI, OM, FM
CE Credits: 1.5
New Tool for Radiology Capital Planning - VA Radiology Design Guide
Tobias Gilk, M.Arch, MRSO, MRSE, HSDQ - Sr. VP, RAD-Planning, Founder, Gilk Radiology Consultants
Robert P. Junk, BS - President, RAD-Planning
This session is generously sponsored by Gilk Radiology Consultants
The US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) produces the the most comprehensive vendor-neutral free planning tool for imaging services capital planning. RAD-Planning recently completed a complete overhaul of the planning and design criteria with The Innova Group on behalf of the VA. This presentation will introduce you to the tools and resources within the new Imaging Services Design Guide, from resources for imaging equipment needs assessments, to quantifying incidental equipment needs, to calculating how many of which room-type your facility should have, to how big each of those rooms ought to be. This is the single most useful public access capital planning tool that exists. Additionally, the presenters will discuss the design guidance which can help you, your equipment planners, and your design professionals, organize imaging services for efficiency, future growth, and significant clinical changes that are accelerating.
You will learn to:
• Use the new Imaging Services Design Guide to quantify equipment needs and space needs for capital projects.
• Identify the ways in which the Imaging Services Design Guide anticipates growth and changes in imaging services, and quantifies those likely changes to help 'future proof' today's capital planning.
• Interpret the planning design guidance to improve efficiency, operations, and patient experience through better planned facilities.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Leadership and Performance Improvement, GILI or TWIT?
Victoria Barnosky, PhD, CRA - System Director, Allegheny Health Network
Sylvia Lesic, MLLS,CRA - EXecutive Director Imaging Services, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Through the use of leadership evaluation instruments, audience participation, and a bit of humor, participants will be able to explore their leadership style and gain a better understanding of various performance improvement tools. Leaders will be able to identify areas of opportunity to gain greater success in leading and participating in projects, tasks, and processes that would benefit from PI tools. They will gain a better understanding of the methods that allow leaders to gain a greater participation, buy-in, and engagement in their work environment. Leaders will also be able to identify ways to build successful subordinates in leadership positions as well as recognize leadership styles that facilitate areas of performance improvement.
You will learn to:
• Evaluate Leader's primary leadership style.
• Gain knowledge of various performance improvement tools.
• Determine best Performance Improvement too to fit style of process.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Joint Commission Update: Diagnostic Imaging Services Standards, Survey Results - REPEAT
Andrea D. Browne, PhD, DABR - Diagnostic Medical Physicist, The Joint Commission
This session will review TJC standards that apply to diagnostic imaging. Summary data will be presented of the elements of performance scored on survey in 2018 through first quarter of 2019 that apply to imaging. Descriptive comments from surveyors will be shared. Areas to consider for performance improvement will be discussed. A question and answer period will be provided.
You will learn to:
• List the chapters in which requirements for diagnostic imaging services reside.
• List the actions required by the fluoroscopy standards effective 1/1/2019
• Describe the most scored standards and elements of performance in 2018.
• List specific observations and the RFIs that resulted.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Exhibitor Symposium: How Uniformity in CT Practice Helps Patients, and How Outsourcing CT Protocol Management Will Save You Money
Myron A. Pozniak, MD – Emeritus Professor of Radiology, UW Hospital
Tim Szczykutowicz, Ph.D – Associate Professor Departments of Radiology, Medical Physics and BME, UW
Gina Greenwood, MBA, R.T.(R)(MR), CRA, FAHRA, MBA, R.T.(R)(MR), CRA, FAHRA – Director, Radiology Services, UW Health
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: 2019 Awards & AHRA Fellows Reception (by invitation only)
7:15 AM - 8:15 AM: Continental Breakfast
7:15 AM - 8:15 AM
Exhibitor Symposium: Developments in Whole Spine Imaging: Technology Advances for Inside and Outside of the Operating Room
Gregg R. Cretella – National Manager, Clinical Operations, Fujifilm Medical Systems, U.S.A.
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Breakout Sessions
Boards, Committees and Meetings What Happens and Why
Bruce Hammond, CRA, FAHRA - CEO, GroupB Management Partners
A look at how Boards work, a short discussion of management versus governance and how to effectively understand the functions and what they can and cannot do. A presentation on how to conduct meetings effectively and fairly. Discussion of application of Roberts Rules of Order are they helpful or harmful in various circumstances. Application of the specifics to AHRA with the Board, the EF, the RACC and more.
You will learn to:
• Understand the difference between governance and management.
• Apply Roberts Rules of Order and make your meetings move efficiently.
• Manage your meetings to be productive and not a waste of time.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1.5
Managing Multiples: Sites, Modalities, Staff: Skip the Xanax "it can be done"
Sandy Dobrogowski, BS, RTR, CRA - Imaging Manager, Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Darcy Lemke, BS, RTR, RDMS, RVT - Imaging Manager, Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
This session is generously sponsored by Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
As we all face trying times in healthcare, leaders are continually asked to do more with less; FTE, demands on your time, red tape, and regulations. If you also have the privilege of covering multiple locations, these tasks are even more amplified.
Multiple factors put strain on our staffing resources. With providers’ extended hours, Urgent Care Sites open late, and 24/7 Micro-Hospitals that need our services, we are challenged to think outside of the box to staff these sites in a fiscally responsible manner. We will discuss a variety of methods that can be used to assist this specialized leader to be successful in the breadth of their responsibilities. "How do we do it all?" We will share how we have redesigned job descriptions and partnered with mobile companies, to be successful in managing these challenges as we continue to grow. Communication is always a key to success. We will also describe the various methods of communication we utilize to keep staff up to date across the system. Multi-modality/multi-site leaders are facing these challenges as an intricate matrix team while continuing to focus on patient satisfaction and staff engagement.
This is our story of Managing Multiples: Sites, Modalities and Staff.
You will learn to:
• Become familiar with a model of multisite / multimodality management.
• Identify methods of communication to various audiences.
• Explore an Introduction to various staffing models.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Fluoroscopy Dose Management and the Joint Commission Standards
Olav Christianson, MS, DABR - Sr. Medical Physicist, Landauer
This session is generously sponsored by Landauer
Meeting The Joint Commissions standards for fluoroscopy patient dose management may seem like a challenge. Some hospitals have old equipment and tight budgets. Others have state of the art technology and dose monitoring software but aren’t sure how to best use it to meet the requirements. In this session we will provide practical advice on how to incorporate whatever tools are available to meet the new standards. Proper management of patient doses from fluoroscopic examinations reduces risk of serious radiation skin injuries. We will share best practices for a fluoroscopy patient dose management program including what should be done before, during, and after fluoroscopy examinations. We will discuss techniques for dose optimization for adults and pediatrics and how to incorporate these techniques into training programs for staff operating fluoroscopic equipment. Finally, we will focus on proper follow-up, communication, and management of radiation related injuries to minimize the effect on patients’ lives. To conclude, we will focus on occupational exposure from operating fluoroscopic equipment. Data shows that staff who work with fluoroscopic equipment have higher incidence of cataracts and cancer. We will cover the simple techniques staff can use to minimize their exposure as well as state of the art tools that are available to help manage occupational exposure in the fluoroscopic room.
If you have questions about meeting The Joint Commission standards for fluoroscopy patient dose management, this session is for you.
You will learn to:
• Understand what is required to meet The Joint Commission standards for fluoroscopy patient dose management.
• Apply best practices for managing patient doses in fluoroscopy before, during, and after the examination.
• Apply techniques and technology to manage occupational exposure related to operating fluoroscopic equipment.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Engaging Radiology Supervisors Through a Formal Mentoring Program
Elyce M. Wolfgang, MHA, RT(R) - Assistant Radiology Clinical Director, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
In the world of radiology, engagement is crucial to the success of the department. The supervisory level staff are the fulcrum of engagement, as they are pivoting between the front line staff and management level. At The Johns Hopkins Hospital, within two years, ten supervisor positions experienced turnover, which is one third of the first level leadership team. After conducting extensive research on the topic of mentoring in the workplace, it was found that overall mentoring increases work attitudes, reduces turnover, and increases career success. Additionally, both mentors and mentees experience a wealth of benefits. The mentor benefits include developing junior mentees in order to plan for succession, increasing internal satisfaction, as well as gaining a better understanding of how the decisions they make affect junior staff. Mentee benefits include increasing engagement with their teams, reducing team turnover, gaining exposure to people outside of their own content area, and gaining diverse ideas on how to approach their challenges. Therefore, a mentoring program was created and implemented to aid in succession planning, better equip supervisors to handle challenges they encounter, and increase the supervisor's ability to hone their own skills. By engaging supervisors in a mentoring program, we have seen an overall increase in employee engagement and retention rates. After all, our employees are our greatest asset and we need to ensure they stay engaged at every level in order to provide the best care for our patients!
You will learn to:
• Understand the importance and benefits of mentoring supervisory level staff.
• Implement a mentoring program at your own institution.
• Analyze useful data to determine the program's success.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Building a Large Radiology Service Line: Bigs Wins and Pitfalls
Chris Tomlinson, MBA, CRA, FAHRA - Vice President, Enterprise Radiology, Jefferson Health - Thomas Jefferson University Health System
This session is generously sponsored by Jefferson Health - Thomas Jefferson University Health System
In this era of consolidation, health systems are merging/acquiring other health systems creating mega systems. Many radiology leaders are leading service lines that are extremely large. Aligning and managing a service line over 10+ hospitals and large geographies are increasing complex. Strategies to save significant dollars and standardize programs can have major scale implications. IT standardizations and service rationalization are difficult projects to employ. Setting strategy and tracking safety and operational metrics across the line is very important to ensure consistency of service. Rationalizing service locations to reduce duplication of expensive, lower utilization locations is emotionally difficult for leaders in the local areas that are being rationalized. Tiering or segmenting your imaging locations based on acuity and cost are also key to an integrated radiology service line and will be discussed. This session will focus on the integration of the Radiology Service Line at Jefferson Health system in the PA/NJ market. The Jefferson service line is almost 2 millions studies with over 100 radiologists and nearly $2 billion in gross revenue across 30 imaging locations.
You will learn to:
• Understand the Challenges with integrating a radiology service line.
• find high value focus areas for leveraging scale and saving $'s
• Understand pitfalls in building an enterprise service line.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Beverage Break
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Breakout Sessions
Navigating Change Using Data: Our Journey Building a Department Dashboard
Michelle L. Casler, M.S. R.T. (R) (MR) - MRI Manager, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Samantha L. Mueller, B.S. R.T. (R) (MR) - Chief MRI Technologist, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Every health care organization has access to data through an electronic health record. Oftentimes, this data is overwhelming, confusing, and difficult to assess. Data can be misleading if not validated and properly interpreted. It is important for data to accurately represent your current workflow, in order to discover opportunities for improvement. The key to accurate and useful data is a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary effort between the informatics team, imaging department and other hospital units. Learning to leverage data will allow you to facilitate effective changes in your imaging department by helping hospital leadership understand the challenges and need for support. Our journey began with building the “MRI Dashboard”, a real-time reporting system, which displays the MRI order status and potential barriers to completion. The development included retrieving data from the RIS system, using technologist input, and creating new workflows to promote department productivity. Through our collaboration on multiple hospital performance and quality projects, we gained further understanding of our processes. Our final step was utilizing the dashboard to implement effective change that impacted the delivery of care to patients through improved efficiency and communication. The process of building a dashboard required engagement at every level of the team and is the key to our sustained success.
You will learn to:
• Extract useful and accurate data from your EHR to perform robust workflow analysis.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to accomplish the objectives of multiple performance and quality improvement projects.
• Utilize front line staff input to implement effective change and drive accurate data management.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Leadership and Successful Outcomes in a Turnaround
Luis 0. Marquez, MBA, MPH, FAHRA - System Director, Imaging and Cardiology Services, Sinai Health System
Leaders are measured and defined by departmental and organizational outcomes. Leadership involves active participation to fully understand the needs of the staff, patients, physicians, and community to ensure success. We must make difficult decisions to ensure we continuously move our department and organization forward. Leaders must know human resources, fiscal management, operations, and communication. Understand how an Imaging and Cardiology department in a level 1 trauma safety net hospital on the west of Chicago was able to grow volume, increase staff engagement, increase patient experience, and decrease cost.
You will learn to:
• Utilize fiscal management tools to increase volumes and decrease cost.
• Utilize leadership behaviors to increase staff engagement
• Increase patient experience based on barriers every organization faces.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Clerical Staff Goes Lean
Roberta Edge, MHA, CRA, FAHRA - Director of Diagnostic Imaging, Sutter Gould Medical Foundation
We have been on our Lean Journey for over 8 years now and have spent the last year focused on our scheduling team.
We've split incoming calls and calling out work queues between two teams located 40 miles apart. We had to overcome cultural barriers and the omnipresent desire to keep things status quo. All this amidst 45% vacancy rate. The good news is morale has never been better and the two teams are working as one. We have seen some improvement in our scheduling error rates and have almost the entire team cross trained in each modality. Come and learn how using Lean has helped us move closer to managing for daily improvement.
You will learn to:
• Use lean tools to manage culture change, improve morale and improve employee satisfaction scores.
• Use lean tools to manage for daily improvement
• Understand it is OK to pull the plug, and "slow down to go fast".
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
MRI Magic
Kimberly Harrell, RT R MR CRA CMPE - Manager, Kaiser Permanente
Since the inception of national standards to reduce CT dose, there has been an increase in MRI orders. This was verified in our AHRA Imagining Benchmarking report from 2017. Administrators that lack hands on MRI experience may struggle with the "how" to optimize volumes/revenue. In this session, a road map of how individual sites can benefit from our proven success. This will vary based on several key variables that we will review. What is your sites scanning potential? How do you measure it and staff for it? Our collective goal, was to achieve results without adding exorbitant staffing costs. We increased volumes/revenue from performing an average of 16 exams a day to an average of 25. How did we do it? Our success started with bringing in our LEAN team and blossomed from there. Our recognized efficiencies and increased exam volumes can be replicated! The value we captured utilizing technicall assistants. What you may or may not know about the value of coil technology.
You will learn to:
• Gain education on the different coil technology and how to maximize efficiency of what you have.
• Understand the difference between scan time, table time and the impact of table change over time.
• Understand the discussion of the model utilizing a technical assistant and the value they add in recouping scan time.
• Why your coil technology matters and how to maximize what you have to increse access/revenue.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
A series of FORTUNATE Events: A Cardiothoracic Imaging Story
Angelic P. Bush, MSRS, CRA, RT(R)(CT)(MR), FAHRA, University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston
Luba Frank, MD, UTMB
The healthcare industry is in a state of constant reinvention. As leaders of imaging operations designed to support such dramatic industry reinvention, it is our role to ensure we have a department infrastructure flexible enough to adapt to the its key stakeholder needs even if those stakeholders change dramatically. Cardiothoracic imaging is one such area of imaging management that leader key stakeholders span across several specialties. Finding common ground that starts at the desired outcomes key stakeholder (regardless of specialty) and being willing to reinvent, recreate or innovate operations around their process can create a more robust and sustainable operation that can more consistently meet those expectations.
You will learn to:
• Define quality of cardiac CT & MRI imaging and its diagnostic value in patient care.
• Identify productivity and cost per procedure challenges of running a program in a lab mixed with diagnostic procedures and cardiac imaging & ideas to compensate.
• Find reporting, coding and charge capture opportunities associated with cardiac imaging.
Domains: OM, FM
Credits: 1
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM: Exhibit Hall Open & Lunch served 12:00-1:00 PM.
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Exhibitor Symposium: Utilizing Technology in a Modern Healthcare Facility – Emerging Trends
Michael Perez De Utrera, BHSA, R.T. (R) (CT) (MR) – Diagnostic Imaging Manager, Leon Medical Centers
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
Breakout Sessions
Leadership Through Coaching and Your Bottom Line
Amy Hollis, RTR, CRA, MHA - Director of Imaging Services, Monroe Clinic
We all know that leadership matters. What we fail to realize, however, is that how we lead our teams impacts the success of our departments and organizations. This session will focus on the coaching leadership model and its direct effect on finances, safety, quality, and engagement. During this session, you will learn strategies to bring your staffing metrics in line which is one of the most effective ways to control costs. You will also learn how empowering employees to champion safety and quality initiatives places improvement in the hands of those closest to the work. After all, these are the people who have the most knowledge. We will discuss real-life results. The presenter will provide a case study on the implementation of the coaching model. Data metrics will be shared to demonstrate the level of success possible through coaching and engaged leadership. The presenter will provide take home tools that can be scaled up or down to fit any organization.
You will learn to:
• Bring you staffing metrics in line to reduce cost.
• Empower your front-line employees to make quality and safety improvements.
• Run and analyze leading data metrics so you can make impactful changes.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
MITA Advocacy Update: Ensuring the Cybersecurity of Medical Imaging Equipment
Patrick Hope, JD - Executive Director, Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA)
This session is generously sponsored by Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA)
Cybersecurity is a high priority for physicians, hospitals, and manufacturers of all internet connected devices, and even more so when patient safety and health information is at stake. MITA has led efforts to strengthen cybersecurity for imaging systems which reach far beyond the radiology suite. MITA published a 2015 whitepaper http://www.nema.org/Standards/Pages/Cybersecurity-for-Medical-Imaging.aspx that explained how well-structured and governed collaboration is required to safeguard patients' protected health information and their physical safety. Older medical imaging equipment is often no longer serviced or parts provided by the manufacturer. This raises the question of whether these medical devices are cyber secure. MITA remains active in the development of patient safety policies and standard development to ensure those servicing medical equipment meet high quality safety standards.
You will learn to:
• Better understand how to make your facility cybersecure.
• Understand the medical device industry is doing to inform medical imaging companies about preventing cyber attacks
• Understand the risks of older, unpatchable equipment and what policies should be in place to ensure connected equipment is safe from a cyber attack.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Reducing Sedation and Anesthesia in Pediatric Imaging
Robert MacDougall, PhD - Manager, Diagnostic Imaging Physics, Boston Children's Hospital
Diane Biagiotti, BS, RT MR (R) - MRI Modality Operations Manager/MRI Safety Officer, Children's Hospital Boston
Sedation and anesthesia are frequently used in pediatric hospitals as many patients are scared, very sick and otherwise unable to remain still for the duration of the imaging exam. Sedation rates are higher for advanced modalities requiring high resolution and/or long imaging times (e.g. MRI, CT). The effects of general anesthesia (GA) on young patients is an area of active research but several studies have demonstrated adverse neurocognitive effects for the youngest patients (< 3 years old). Consequently, efforts to minimize the use of GA should be a priority for radiology departments serving pediatric patients with the same level of priority given to reducing radiation exposure. In this session, a variety approaches are presented to reduce sedation/GA for pediatric patients including tools for 1) patient preparation, 2) fast image acquisition and c) image reconstruction:
1. Patient preparation should start once the exam has been ordered. Prior to scanning, tools including mock scans, virtual reality and interaction with a child life specialist can help prepare the patient.
2. Image acquisition: During the imaging exam, fast acquisition techniques (so called 'fast scans') for MRI and CT should be employed to reduce motion artifacts. Examples include high pitch or volumetric protocols for CT and single shot, sparse data MRI protocols. Examples of imaging techniques and protocols will be reviewed.
3. Image reconstruction: Techniques for reconstruction motion-corrupted data are introduced. Devices to track motion in real time will be introduced and preliminary results presented.
You will learn to:
• Understand novel methods of preparing the patient for MRI and CT exams to minimize sedation/GA.
• Understand methods of acquiring data quickly to mitigate patient motion during acquisition.
• Understand cutting edge methods to reconstruct motion-corrupted data.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
The Approaching Data Storm - What Matters
Jef Williams, MBA, PMP, CIIP - Managing Partner, Paragon Consulting Partners
This session is generously sponsored by Paragon Consulting Partners
This session will cover the various aspects of data as it relates to medical imaging. We are being told that data is important, but what data is truly important to imaging? This is a discussion about the growing trend in patient-generated data, analytics, episodic and operationally generated and what will truly impact the way we run our departments and deliver care. Session content is based on recent market research, systematic technology reviews, and insights gathered at dozens of healthcare organizations across the US over the past year.
You will learn to:
• Understand the key data elements that will matter to medical imaging leaders.
• Understand how the technology vendor landscape is changing and why that matters.
• Understand the steps organizations can take to adopt better data management strategies.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
Expand Revenue and Covered Access by Taking Part in New Breast Tomosynthesis Trial
Etta Pisano, MD
TMIST principal investigator Etta Pisano, MD, explains how taking part in this landmark trial can enable you to shape breast cancer screening, provide uninsured women in your area with (well) covered screening exams, and strengthen your bottom line.
Domains: TBD
CE Credits: 1
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM: Beverage Break
3:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Closing Business Session & Keynote: Leading on the Edge: 7 Vertical Lessons & 1 Essential Question to Lead with Impact, Regardless of Your Title
Manley Feinberg
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
To The Top
AHRA’s Rockin’ in the Rockies
Unleash your inner rock star at the AHRA 2019 Theme Party. Whether it’s glam, heavy, thrash, or 80s, be ready to ROCK the night away with your AHRA friends and family! Enjoy food, drink, and plenty of dancing