1. COST-EFFECTIVE
HEALTHCARE IN
MEDICAL IMAGING
Abhishek Sehrawat
Dept. Of Radio diagnosis
AIIMS, New Delhi

2. PHASES IN COST

3. Diagnostic imaging is the fastest
growing component of healthcare
costs
 In the last decade, the imaging department has
become the nucleus for diagnosis in most medical
centres. This is certainly related to continued
technologic advances and improvements in the
quality of imaging.
 Faster processing and rapid on-site interpretations
by local well-trained experts have further enhanced
the feasibility of performing such examinations,
both from the emergency room and in outpatient
settings.

4. EARLIER CONVENTIONAL IMAGING SYSTEM

5. DIGITAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES
REDUCE COSTS

6.  When accounting for complication
rate and long term failure rate -
digital radiography is cost effective
as compared to conventional
radiography.

7.  As a result, primary care physicians/young
physicians/ referring physicians are requesting
diagnostic imaging exams more frequently.
 Medical Imaging has developed so rapidly that
physicians have not yet integrated the strengths
of new exams into their practices or accounted
for their limitations.
 Tests are therefore ordered without a firm
knowledge of what they can contribute to
diagnostic certainty .
 Patients often demand tests, and physicians
placate them by complying.

8. USG in the emergency department for
patients with abdominal pain.
Self-referral for unnecessary and/or
inappropriate imaging services not
only increases out-of-pocket costs for
consumers, but also contributes to
overall health care costs.

9.  The inappropriate use of diagnostic
imaging, and the resulting
unnecessary exposure to radiation in
some cases, have implications for both
the quality and cost of health care.
PHYSICIAN OWNERSHIP INTEREST
IN IMAGING EQUIPMENT.

10. As a result, the cost of diagnostic
imaging has been growing faster
than prescription drug costs.

11. Health insurance plans are pursuing
strategies designed to improve quality
and reduce costs by promoting the
appropriate use of diagnostic imaging.

12. DO RADIOLOGISTS CONTROL IMAGING
STUDIES ?

13. DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING IS THE FASTEST
GROWING COMPONENT OF
HEALTHCARE COSTS.
 Up to a third of imaging procedures
may be inappropriate.
 Worse still, 20% to 50% of high-tech,
high-cost imaging does not contribute
useful diagnostic information .

14. Patient Safety – Right Test at the
Right Time

15. Efficiency in work address the cost-effectiveness
of procedures.
Quality, Innovation, Productivity and
Prevention (QIPP) is a key to reduce
cost.