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July 31, 2006
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
New Member/First-Time Attendee Breakfast

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Continental Breakfast
Generously sponsored by Canon

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Grand Opening General Session
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Eliot Siegel
Generously sponsored by Kodak Health Group

11:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Lunch served 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Improving Customer Service in Radiology


Brooke Billingsley
Perception Strategies, Inc
Indianapolis, IN

This session repeated on August 1, 4:00 PM

This session will demonstrate best practices from healthcare organizations across the United States. This session will provide you with management tools that help employees deliver exceptional customer service. You will hear stories of imaging centers that have utilized these tools and gained market share.

You will learn to:

• See customer service through the eyes of the consumer
• Manage difficult customers
• Understand best practices from imaging centers across the United States

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
How to Audit APC Charts


Andrei M. Costantino, MHA, CPC-H, CPC
CodeRyte
Harrisburg, PA

Trinity Health
Farmington Hills, MI

This session repeated on August 1, 4:00 PM

The most effective way to measure APC accuracy is through periodic and continuous auditing with a focus on those services currently paid under APCs. An effective audit process must be designed that outlines all the needed components and processes. This session will focus on developing an objective, choosing data elements, collecting a sAM ple, interpreting results, and writing a findings report. The session will also cover how to audit and monitor the billing process and charge master. Finally, the session will deal with how to handle overpayments/underpayments discovered during an audit.

You will learn to:

• Plan and organize an APC audit
• Use effective reporting of audit results and benchmarking
• Handle overpayments/underpayments and compliance issues.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
PACS Administration: Creating the Support Team


Wilbur L. Reddinger Jr., MS, RT(R)(CT)
John C. Lincoln Health Network
Phoenix, AZ

This session repeated on August 1, 5:30 PM

Implementing a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and subsequent staff training should not be treated as an event with an absolute end. PACS implementation and training should be an evolving process that includes the expansion of goals and ideals. This course will provide discussion relative to expanding the role of PACS administration to include diagnostic imaging support staff. The lecture will include discussion pertaining to various strategies that can be utilized for developing diagnostic imaging into PACS support personnel. The course will provide several competency-based learning models that include managing diagnostic imaging workflow issues. The course will discuss the expansion of a film library and/or imaging library into a department that can provide service and PACS support. The lecture will include discussion relative to the creation of new and expansion of current diagnostic imaging job descriptions.

You will learn to:

• Create, expand, and include a list of competencies that describe the role of PACS support personnel
• Create or expand job descriptions to include diagnostic and imaging personnel as PACS support personnel
• Develop a strategy for converting a film library or image library into a PACS support department

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Leadership Development and Succession Planning: A Model for Medical Imaging Services


Roger Rhodes, CRA, FAHRA
Covenant Healthcare
Milwaukee, WI

This session repeated on August 1, 2:30 PM

Radiology administrators know that outstanding front-line leaders such as managers, supervisors, coordinators, and Team leaders are critical to success in medical imaging. Yet, very few resources are ever allocated or used for their individual Development and growth outside of a hospital or health system’s “generic” leadership Development program. This session will share with you an “imaging-specific” leadership Development model and will outline the key components to starting the program and a succession plan for leaders in imaging services.

You will learn to:

• Understand key components of an imaging services leadership Development program
• Develop a succession plan for key leadership roles in the imaging department
• Start your own leadership Development program in your imaging department
• Build support and cost justification for your leadership Development program.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Going Totally Filmless in a High Volume OR: A Success Story


Timothy Sapyta, MBA
Central DuPage Hospital
Winfield, IL

This presentation will discuss the steps and actions taken by the second busiest O.R. in Illinois to successfully implement a total filmless environment in a 21-room surgery department. Success was achieved through a well-planned, proactive approach with key physician and nursing stakeholders. The steps to planning, building physician relationships, and designing hardware suitable for a high-volume OR, and productivity benefits will be discussed.

You will learn:

• Productivity and cost benefits from an OR Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS)
• Successful planning for OR PACS implementation
• What hardware is suitable for a high volume OR

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Moving to the Executive Suite: What You Need to Know Before You Go


Cindy S. Wedel, MPA, FAHRA
Saint Thomas Hospital
Nashville, TN

How do you move to the executive level? How do you get there? This session includes advice from someone who has moved to the corporate level. Learn about recommended training and degrees.

You will learn to:

• Determine if this is the right kind of job for you
• What skills you will need
• How to get to the corporate level

2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Situational Leadership II


Cheryl Provost, RN, BS
Tyco Healthcare Mallinckrodt
Glen Falls, NY

Situational Leadership® II, based on The Ken Blanchard Companies model, is a process for developing people by providing effective leadership, over time, so that they can reach their highest level of performance. It is based on an individual’s Development level on a specific goal or task and the leadership style that the leader provides.

You will learn to:

• Increase the frequency and quality of conversations about performance and Development with the people you lead
• Become more flexible and adaptable during times of change or with a diverse workforce
• Use a variety of leadership styles to increase morale, create a positive work environment, and achieve desired results
• Be more skillful in setting goals, giving work direction, encouraging self-reliant problem solving, listening, observing and monitoring performance, and giving feedback
• Be better at developing and retaining talent

2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
JCAHO 2006-2007 Update for Hospital Imaging Departments


Judith M. Atkins, RN, MSN
McKenna & Associates
Charleston, WV

This session repeated on August 1, 2:30 PM

Imaging departments have many challenges related to Joint Commission on Accreditation’s (JCAHO) unannounced surveys. This session will concentrate on preparing for unannounced surveys. The session leader will bring you up to date on results of surveys and anticipated changes for 2007.

You will learn to:

• Describe the unannounced survey process
• List the most noncompliant standards
• List 2 questions your staff will have to answer

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Break
Generously sponsored by Aureus Medical Group

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Maximizing the Imaging Center Revenue Cycle


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

This session repeated on August 1, 2:30 PM

The imaging center revenue cycle involves much more than billing and collections activity. While good business practices in the billing and collections area are essential, the revenue cycle in fact begins when the patient is scheduled for a procedure. From this point on, there are numerous problems that can occur. This means there are also many opportunities to influence revenue and profitability for the imaging center. Often, problems occur due to inconsistency in processes throughout the entire revenue cycle, the failure to adequately train personnel or from the lack of sufficient resources. This session is designed to review the imaging center revenue cycle, including the various process steps that can impact overall efficiency and profitability. Distinct processes will be discussed and the overall workflow outlined. From there, common problems will be identified and suggestions for correction provided. The goal is to provide specific, actionable steps that can be applied in the imaging center environment. In addition, billing/collections activities will be outlined to enable center managers to better speak the language of the billing department.

You will learn to:

• Understand the full imaging center revenue cycle
• Identify opportunities to improve processes ultimately related to profitability
• Analyze various steps in the revenue cycle

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Manage This! 3 Secrets To Coaching Your Team To Greatness!


Jenifer Madson, BA
Wealth Journeys
Erie, CO

This session repeated on August 1, 5:30 PM

As a manager, you are a director of transformation for your organization. You are responsible for promoting the right environment for the growth of your Team. Ever feel like you were herding cats? Pushing a rope? It might be because you are stuck in a management paradigm that just doesn’t work. This session will teach you to cultivate the most fertile ground for Team growth into your management style for measurable, lasting change! You’ll learn to do more with less and enjoy yourself in the process. It’s not about becoming someone you’re not. It’s about learning how to become the best you can be and “enrolling” others to do the same!

You will learn to:

• Clarifiy specific and measurable outcomes
• Confront without being confrontational
• Coach the gap between where the Team is and where they want to be

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Self Control and Self Discipline: It's All About Me


Suzanne Metzger, PhD
Corporate Masters Inc.
Plainfield, IN

This session repeated on August 1, 8:00 AM

Staying calm and productive under our daily pressures is a real challenge in this day and age! DrAM atically improving our performance and our interaction with our peers and clients becomes more important as our world gets more busy and more complex. Its not about changing the people we work with, its about changing ourselves to effectively adjust to others. Its about stopping a critical inner voice and putting high self esteem into action.

You will learn to:

• Understand the importance of “self” in any endeavor
• Develop a workable “consideration” scale for you life and career
• Motivate and control from the inside out

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
PACS Policies and Procedures: Don't Go Live Without Them


Dan Knepper, BS, ASRT(R)
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Dallas, TX

Documentation of Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) policies and procedures, both technical and procedural, is critical for the proper operation and management of a PACS. Unfortunately, because the systems are so new in many healthcare facilities, it is necessary to design PACS policies and procedures from scratch or, worse yet on an as-needed basis. This presentation will cover the essentials of what should be included within a PACS policies and procedures manual, including administration, maintenance, support, architecture and integration, and disaster recovery/business continuity. By leveraging existing resources, one can start with baseline policies which can be molded to meet the specific needs of a particular system, such as PACS. This presentation will be applicable to facilities first venturing into PACS, as well as those that have already implemented a PACS.

You will learn to:

• Understand why policies are important for the function and ongoing operation of the PACS
• Create a template PACS policies and procedures manual
• Think about your role in disaster recovery and business continuity

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Planning, Developing and Operating PET/CT in a Community Hospital


Timothy L. Ludwig, BSRT(R)(CT)
Craven Regional Medical Center
New Bern, NC

Position Emission Tomography/Computer Tomography (PET/CT) has rapidly become the modality of choice for many in the fight against cancer. This presentation will focus on the success that enjoyed by developing the project from the beginning without the benefit of having someone on staff that had a PET background. PET should not be the type of project that Radiology Administrators fear if they do not have a Nuclear Medicine (NM) background. They should embrace the challenge and rely on their knowledge base when developing a PET program. Emphasis will be placed on making the business argument for PET in a community hospital, determining the best area to locate the service, and learning how to identify potential problem issues prior to their existence.

You will learn to:

• Assess the demographics of your service area to predict future success based on cancer incidence
• Identify a suitable area within your organization to house a PET program to include patient prep areas, holding, dosing rooms, hot lab, and common areas
• Identify learning opportunities for NM staff as well as other hospital staff concerning ALARA and proper radiation safety
• Develop a business plan that includes an accurate capital and operational budget

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Managing the Communication of Critical Test Results for Radiology Administrators


Julia Napper, RN, BSN, CHCQM
Parkland Health and Hospital System
Dallas, TX

Scott Segell
Vocada
Dallas, TX

This in-depth discussion will cover all phases of critical test results management.  You will hear hands-on descriptions of building a strategy to comply with JCAHO’s National Patient Safety Goal on the communication of critical test results, while providing better patient safety and lowering the chance of a malpractice lawsuit for your facility.  The goal of this workshop is to present a best practice model on communications that will allow you to improve patient safety, physician satisfaction and JCAHO compliance. 

You will learn to:

• Build an overall strategy and hospital policy on Critical Test Results
• Implement a CTR system that is enterprise wide
• How to manage communications enterprise wide management of CTR

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Recognizing the Need for an Outpatient Imaging Center and the Pros and Cons of Joint Venture Models


W. Cannon King, MBA
Outpatient Imaging Affiliates
Nashville, TN

This session repeated on August 1, 4:00 PM

Hospital based radiology departments are faced with more challenges to their long-term growth than ever before. Externally, independent or entrepreneurial-based imaging centers, often located within shouting distance of the hospital cAM pus, are booming. A better informed patient population is no longer willing to battle the scheduling issues, long wait times, parking, and other bureaucratic issues inherent to a hospital based environment for their outpatient exams. Local hospitals often have strong reputations and hospital-based radiology practices often have good relationships with referring physicians. All are assets that can be leveraged in the marketplace.

You will learn to:

• Recognize if you should be considering the Development of an outpatient-imaging center
• Assemble a compelling case to present to Hospital Administration
• Understand the pros and cons of different ownership approaches for developing an imaging center

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
American College of Radiology Diagnostic Modality Accreditation Programs: Update for 2006


Trudie Cushing, MS, RN, RT(T)
American College of Radiology
Reston, VA

The American College of Radiology (ACR), a nationally recognized leader in accreditation programs, offers accreditation in mammography, radiation oncology, breast ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy, CT, Nuclear Medicine, PET, and MRI. This presentation will focus on DMAP, the diagnostic radiology accreditation program, which includes all modalities except mammography and radiation oncology. Over the past few years, there have been several changes and additions to the program, and this presentation will update attendees on revisions as well as current program requirements.

During this presentation, the DMAP application will be reviewed, including items that must be submitted with the application in order for a facility to receive testing materials.

Application components include personnel qualifications, patient and personnel safety guidelines, equipment performance and quality assurance programs. The clinical and phantom (if applicable) review process will be outlined, and the site visit format will be discussed.  The presentation will include the time line from submission of application to receipt of final report, accreditation fees and program requirements. ACR Standards and Guidelines, upon which the accreditation programs are based, will be briefly reviewed to familiarize attendees with guidelines and standards related to specific modalities as well as general guidelines for education, safety and communication.

Common deficiencies that result in deferral of accreditation will be discussed, as well as the process for submission of repeat testing materials for facilities that are initially denied accreditation.

All application materials and final reports are sent to the facility’s supervising physician. Obtaining ACR accreditation is a team effort that requires the participation and support of the facility physicians, as well as the technical and physics staff. It is a quality improvement, peer review process with the ultimate goal of improved patient care. Although the DMAP program is for voluntary programs, many payers require accreditation for some modalities such as CT, PET and MRI.

You will learn to:

• Complete the ACR’s DMAP application for accreditation for one or more diagnostic modalities and become familiar with the program requirements.
• Access (from the web site) ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards that are relevant to the accreditation process.
• Avoid the common “pitfalls” of the application/accreditation process that result in denial of accreditation.

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Building Excellence in Filmless and Paperless Initiatives: Case Studies on Team Building and Group Dynamics


Rodney W. Sappington, PhD (ABD)
Middlesex Health System/Johns Hopkins University
Middletown, CT

Laurel Patt
Middlesex Hospital
Middletown, CT

This session presents a case study covering 18 months of system implementation in which an enterprise-wide Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) solution, ergonomic work area redesign, enterprise-wide computed radiography (CR), modality upgrades, voice recognition, and document scanning were implemented with the goal of eliminating film and paper. This presentation will offer insights in training design and cognitive models that have been developed during this period.

You will learn to:

• Design successful Team decision-making strategy
• Build organizational creativity during periods of change
• Build retraining initiatives
• Design better performance tracking and efficiency monitoring