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August 3, 2006
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
CRA Test
Separate Fee and Pre-registration Required

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Full Field Digital Mammography - Not When...But How


Bonnie Rush, RT(R)(M)(QM)
BIS - Breast Imaging Specialists
San Diego, CA

Thinking of diving into digital mammography? The transition from conventional screen/film to Full-Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) imaging has advanced slowly due to the high-resolution requirements of this modality. However, the time to prepare for the future leap into a digital approach is now. This session will provide insights into where mammography has been and where digital is currently. It will detail the available technologies, how to justify its cost, the regulatory process, and why it will inevitably be the only way to go.

You will learn to:

• Appreciate the requirements of mammography and the strengths and weaknesses of analog versus digital mammography
• Understand new terminology to speak the digital mammography language
• Recognize the impact of the publics perception of this new technology versus the outcomes of analog versus digital systems studies
• Identify the issues involved with implementation of a digital system
• Determine how to justify acquisition of a digital system
• Become Familiar with the current receptor types and the approved as well as potential systems approaches
• Discover future applications that will impel digital imaging of the breast

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Winning The Jackpot: The Keys to Successful Budget Creation, Review, And Defense


Jason Newmark, BA, MHA
Stamford Hospital
Stamford, CT

David Sack, BSRT, RTR, CRA, FAHRA
Stamford Hospital
Stamford, CT

Welcome to management - our budget is due in a week! The annual budgeting process can be one of the most challenging endeavors that a new (and even the most seasoned veteran) radiology manager will face. Some win and some lose the fight. There are complex financial and historical performance data to evaluate, pressure from hospital administration to control, and in some cases, cut costs, and the challenge of preparing the budget while continuing to manage all other on-going projects and day-to-day operation. This is a very daunting task! However, with the right tools and right mindset, budget preparation can actually be a relatively straightforward and rewarding process. In fact, you will likely garner a much clearer picture of how your department is actually performing, as well as identify which strategic initiatives are of the highest priority for the upcoming year. This session will cover the 3 major categories of the budget process, including full-time equivalent (FTE) modeling, projecting operational expenses, and planning for capital expenditures. The speakers will review each category through specific case studies and will provide you with actual tools/models that you will be able to bring back with you to assist in your own budgeting efforts. We encourage both seasoned and non-seasoned managers to attend and participate in open discussion regarding their own experiences and challenges.

You will learn to:

• Eliminate the intimidation factor that most people associate with the budgeting process
• Prepare and justify a budget for major and minor operational and capital expenses, as well as FTE levels
• Defend your budget recommendations with quality data and clarity

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Becoming Culturally Competent in an Ever-Changing Society


Cheryl L. Weiss, MS, RT(R)
Gwynedd Mercy College
Gwynedd Valley, PA

In the United States, we as healthcare professionals are, on a regular basis, interacting with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. It is important in todays climate, to be, not only culturally aware, but truly culturally competent. We all have prejudices, stereotypes, and pre-conceived notions about others who are different from ourselves. This presentation will promote understanding and appreciation of those differences. By shedding the truth about diverse populations across the United States, we will have an increased chance in succeeding with those we work with and those we care for. As we become culturally competent, our communication skills will increase, as will our connectivity with others. An interactive session will enhance our sensitivity, not only in the workplace, but in our personal lives as well. Some basic cultural differences will be discussed and, hopefully, through this process, we will be more prepared in our cultural skills. Building a trusting relationship is the key to a successful relationship. The trust will develop from allowing ourselves the opportunity to look past our own culture. As the demographics are changing, this is a critical time to examine our competence in this area.

You will learn:

• About the stages of becoming culturally competent
• How becoming culturally competent will enhance your communication skills
• Various traditions, values and beliefs that other cultures hold true

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Thank Goodness for Chocolate! A Lighthearted Look at Customer Service


Hazel C. Hacker, MHA, FAHRA
Edison Imaging Associates, PA
Edison, NJ

Many hospitals and imaging centers rely on patient satisfaction surveys to gauge the success of their customer service programs. This interactive session will investigate what customer service is and review different ways of measuring its success or failure. Attendees will be encouraged to share whats being done in their offices, and a very unscientific test of which sex is better at customer service will be performed.

You will learn to:

• Identify different methods of measuring customer satisfaction
• Apply customer service program suggestions derived from your peers
• Recognize who truly is the customer

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Utilizing Six Sigma Methodology to Create a Patient-Focused Womens Center


Becky Southern, RN, MS
Boca Raton Community Hospital
Boca Raton, FL

Mark Viau, BPS/CRT, CRA, FAHRA
Boca Raton Community Hospital
Boca Raton, FL

In March 2005, a 400-bed hospital in South Florida launched an AM bitious new service, Enterprise Excellence. The initial group of 4 Black Belts (full-time employees) and 12 Green Belts (20% of their time allocated to EE) were given projects throughout the organization. Two Black Belts were assigned the womens center which performs more than 44,000 mammography exams per year. The Enterprise Excellence project focused on all aspects of patient care, from the time of scheduling the initial exAM through to the results of the biopsies. The center was a procedure-based center with a cycle time of up to 13 weeks for the process. Utilizing Six Sigma tools the center has transitioned to a patient centered model reducing 8 of the 13 weeks into 1 day.

You will learn:

• The basics of Six Sigma
• Simple tools to get you started in looking at a new way to solve system related problems
• How to identify opportunities within your departments using basic Six Sigma tools
• How Six Sigma takes decision making from subjective to objective solutions

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Identifying Elements of Job Satisfaction to Improve Staff Retention


Becky Lamberth, MSRS, RT (R) (MR)
Plaza Medical Center
Mansfield, TX

There can be little doubt that the national health care system is facing another significant shortage of qualified workers. For years, many organizations focused on recruitment strategies to attract new staff into the door. Initially, these strategies work, however, it is a short term solution. The real problem is retention of the new staff and health care facilities now realize this. Constant hiring, orienting and training new employees is inefficient and expensive. The purpose of this session is to define reasons behind the national shortage, identify key elements of job satisfaction and discuss methods for implementing programs / processes for retaining staff. As part of this discussion, we will also review the consequences of retaining the "wrong" staff members and how this affects the facility, your department and other staff members. Materials for this presentation will be based on published literature, successful hospital programs and personal experience as a director.

You will learn:

• Reasons for the national staffing shortage
• Key elements of job satisfactions
• Methods to incorporate / implement to retain staff

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Courageous, Outrageous, and Highly Contagious Service Leaders


Susan Brooks, MEd
Serves You Right!, Scottsdale, AZ
Leigha Renner, RT(R), CRA
Phoenix, AZ

Customer service is the competitive edge in every business. The key to providing over-the-top, mind-boggling customer service lies in management’s ability to provide motivational leadership to the Team. This program utilizes a variety of interactive and experiential training methods to identify roadblocks and inspire new strategies for creating an energized and synergistic staff. It will provide a clear understanding of the power and freedom of delegation. This is crucial in developing a positive, productive, eager Team. The focus will be the skills, behaviors, and attitudes that have the greatest impact on Team Dynamics, beginning with the self-image and spirit of the leader. By aligning spirit with work, leaders create an environment of heightened aliveness and purpose. This is a sure way to increase morale and productivity, not only for the leaders themselves but for their whole Team as well. Armed with insights, participants will discover and maximize their leadership abilities, learn to enroll and empower their staff, and develop an action plan to establish a service culture for their company. Attendees will learn how to become courageous, outrageous and highly contagious service leaders!

NOTE: please bring an object that represents how you see yourself as a leader.

You will learn to:

• Claim your own leadership image, as well as identify your leadership strengths and blind spots
• Recognize and embrace the necessity for nurturing spirit in the work place
• Make a declaration of action that can be immediately implemented in pursuit of a highly contagious service culture

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Interventional Radiology Coding for Beginners


John Marshall, CRA, RCC, RT(R)
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Sarasota, FL

In this session, a seasoned interventional radiology coder and reimbursement specialist will present basic, simple and useful coding guidelines for common interventional radiology (IR) procedures, including angiography and common catheter/tube manipulations. The entire session will be taught in a combination of good old English and radiologic terminology. After first learning the principles of coding in old fashioned English, attendees will receive a simple tool to easily convert the radiology terms into the required numeric codes. Interventional radiology coding is widely recognized as one of the most difficult coding challenges in all of healthcare and it takes much more than a few hours of class time to meet the challenge. Attendees will not receive all the answers, but more importantly, they will be taught where and how to find the answers for themselves. Although the course is designed for the IR coding beginner, seasoned coders may benefit from the sharing of coding philosophy and available resources. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss any coding barriers within their facilities.

You will learn to:

• Properly code catheter placements, including the hierarchy of placements and modifier usage
• Determine which code sets are appropriate for specific IR procedures
• Spot the most common IR coding errors and apply the knowledge in your facility
• Utilize readily available resources to find the answers and keep your coding up to date and compliant

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Unannounced Surveys: Contributing to Risk Management and Patient Safety


Paul Hargis, MHA
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Oakbrook Terrace, IL

The Joint Commission’s new accreditation process is designed to help health care organizations, including diagnostic imaging providers, maintain continuous compliance with the standards, and use them as a management tool for doing business and improving patient care and safety.  A patient-centered accreditation process sets the stage for unannounced surveys that will ensure that the observation and assessment of the organization’s patient care processes are performed without any special preparation for the on-site survey.  Unannounced surveys will:  enhance the credibility of the accreditation process by ensuring that surveyors observe ASC performance under normal circumstances; reduce the unnecessary costs that ASCs incur to prepare for survey; address public concerns that the Joint Commission receive an accurate reflection of the quality and safety of care; and help ASCs focus on providing safe, high-quality care at all times, and no just when preparing for survey.

You will learn to:

• Discuss the Joint commission’s introduction of unannounced surveys for all ambulatory organizations
• Describe how unannounced survey process will work and alternatives for involving administrative or clinical leaders in the process
• Identify how the survey process combined with the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals create a safer environment for the patients cared for in ASCs

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Management Myths and Magic


Roberta Edge, MHA, CRA, RT(R)(M)
Sutter Gould Medical Foundation
Modesto, CA

You have to know EVERYTHING about imaging and work 14 hours 6 days a week to be an effective leader. NOT! By exploring management myths such as these and using effective time management, people skills, and humor, learn to be more effective, keep your life balanced and set boundaries with those to whom you report and those who report to you. During the speakers tenure as president of AHRA, she was asked repeatedly how I could find the time to volunteer for AHRA while having a full time job. The magic is effective use of time management tools, delegation, mentoring and boundary setting. In this session, use of scheduling all appointments (phone calls, going to the gym, etc) to improve use of time, prioritizing tasks, and setting day-to-day limits so you are in the office less while getting your work done more effectively. Two-minute meditation will be taught as well as the use of an in conference sign on the door to let people know you are in but not available at the moment. By the end of the session, you will have tools to better manage your workday.

You will learn to:

• More effectively utilize your time
• Keep your life balanced
• Stay calm in times of crisis to stay focused on finding a solution

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Workflow, Service Metrics and Patient Safety in Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT)


Kathy Ouellette-Piazzo, BS, RT(R)(M)(CT)
Mass General Hospital
Boston, MA

This presentation will cover how to deal with and implement changes to the workflow with multi-detector scanners. The topic includes, what will need to be changed and how to change it. This topic will also talk about service metrics and how to track the information and document the changes. The topic also includes Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) patient safety goals as stated by JCAHO. This will include a basic description of a Healthcare Failure Mode Effect Analysis (HFMEA) and what this entails.

You will learn to:

• Implement workflow changes with multi-detector Computed Tomography (CT)
• Understand service metrics and how to track changes
• Understand patient safety goals as required by JCAHO
• Implement workflow changes

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Speech Recognition: Better Care and Lower Cost


Nick Van Terheyden, MD
Philips Speech Recognition Systems
Laytonsville, MD

It’s a Familiar story throughout radiology departments in the United States - essential reports delayed for hours, days, and in some cases, weeks awaiting transcription by an overwhelmed transcription service. Documentation is the life blood of radiology and instant access is no longer “nice to have” it is a “must have” feature for delivering high-quality service to radiology department customers. Speech Recognition has reached the plateau of productivity. Put another way – speech recognition has reached the tipping point for healthcare. This session will explore the value of speech recognition in radiology documentation and tight integration into radiology systems to provide easier interaction for time challenged physicians and the value this brings to the quality and speed of clinical data capture.

You will learn to:

• Understand speech recognition technology and how to successfully apply this to your own radiology department
• Identify the key features of a successful speech recognition solution
• Understand why accuracy is not the critical determining factor in a successful implementation
• Differentiate between the various types of speech recognition including front end and back end speech recognition and be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Deciphering PACS Price Quotes: 10 Tips for Normalizing Pricing Across Vendors


Frank Panzarella, MBA
RCG HealthCare Consulting
Boston, MA

Alan Schweitzer, MEE
RCG HealthCare Consulting
Boston, MA

You’ve just received request for proposal (RFP) responses from five picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) vendors, each binder thicker than the next. The first section you instinctively locate is, of course, the pricing. But what is behind each one of these enormous bottom-line numbers and is each vendor quoting comparable packages? Are there hidden costs? Did they omit critical components? How can these quotes be effectively compared? Although different vendors have differing pricing strategies and options, it is important to develop a standard by which you can be reasonably assured that you are comparing “apples to apples.”

You will learn to:

• Standardize pricing formats from all vendors
• Build an excel model for analyzing PACS pricing
• Crosswalk the quotes for accuracy
• Analyze components/costs on per unit basis
• Look beyond the extended maintenance price and break down what each vendor’s program is covering
• Project additional software and hardware costs over the next 5 years

10:00 AM  - 11:00 AM

The key management challenge for institutions that expand their outpatient imaging services - whether within the institution or as a joint-venture with another entity - is not who-reports-to-whom (organizational structure) but rather the management structure, i.e. responsibilities, communications, accountabilities and “dotted-line” reporting.  The presenter introduces a management structure concept with two key characteristics: (1) an emphasis on levels of responsibility and (2) inherent flexibility for any defined organizational structure model.  Only by delineating appropriate levels of responsibility and accountability can an organization transcend formal reporting structures to leverage the planning and resources for a truly successful outpatient imaging venture. 

When an institution expands its outpatient imaging, either with additional locations, new service levels or in a joint venture with another entity, planning tends to focus on business arrangements, market assessments, and equipment and technical staffing resources.  Many times there is an emphasis on creating a seamless experience for referrers and patients.  Planning includes creating an organizational structure; however, management integration is typically far from seamless.  In fact, after operational kinks are worked out, the ongoing challenges are managerial in nature, revolving around communications and accountability.  This presentation provides the audience with a conceptual framework and practical considerations for creating a successful management structure that bridges the inpatient and outpatient services, regardless of the organizational structure and formal (or not) lines of reporting.

You will learn to:

• Understand a new framework for delineating responsibility and creating accountability within your current organizational structure.
• Define strategies for developing a management structure to achieve your organizational goals.
• Develop tactics for tackling common management challenges of outpatient imaging expansion

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Patient Care from the Eyes of the Patient


Philip W. Ballinger, PhD, RT(R)
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH

A 50-minute slide presentation views patient care from the patient's perspective. The presentation discusses patient perceptions, explanations to patient, directions within the hospital for the patient and their fAM ilies (and how confusing it can be), signage, color schemes, food quality, parking and other “little” items. Also discussed is the perceived quality of healthcare, as judged by the communication ability of the individual(s) with whom the patient interacts.

You will learn to:

• Observe the healthcare facility from the perspective of the patient
• Analyze signs and directions given to visitors in the institution
• Respond to confusion and complaints from patients in an understanding fashion
• Evaluate the external appearance of the radiology facility as perceived by the patient

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Healthcare Legal Issues That Impact Radiology Practices


Andrew B. Wachler,
Wachler & Associates, PC
Royal Oak, MI

This presentation will focus on the healthcare legal issues that every radiology administrator should be aware of including: Stark issues relating to radiology practices and relationships; anti-kickback issues relating to radiology practices and relationships - Joint Ventures with hospitals or other entities; and legal issues raised by compliance auditing and monitoring. Specifically, the presentation will provide a general overview of the federal stark and anti-kickback laws and how they may apply in the radiology setting. The presentation will focus on the circumstances wherein the STARK radiology referral “carve-out” does not apply requiring compliance with the STARK regulations. The presentation will also address STARK, anti-kickback and billing issues present with respect to teleradiology and offsite reads. Also addressed will be healthcare legal issues that arise in potential joint venture relationships and will highlight key issues that arise in undertaking compliance auditing and monitoring activities.

You will learn:

• Key healthcare legal issues that impact radiology practices
• How to identify potentially problematic relationships from an anti-kickback and STARK perspective
• Key issues to be aware of in joint ventures
• How to conduct compliance auditing

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Digital Diseases and Congenital Abnormalities of PACS


Mike Ruthemeyer, RT(R)(M)(QM)
St Lukes Hospital
Houston, TX

This course will cover common computer viruses along with specific digital diseases of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) systems such as black hole disease and white bar disease. In addition the issue of congenital abnormalities within pack systems preventing the system for providing high-quality patient care will be covered.

You will learn to:

• Recognize the different PACS specific diseases
• Understand the basics of computer viruses and their effect
• Understand how to prevent infections in your pack system through basic protocols
• Understand how congenital abnormalities in the pack system can affect your total patient care

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Accountability, Delegation and Measurable Goals


Kenneth Fazzino, AS, RT(R), CRA
Philips
Midlothian, VA

Todays work environment continues to expand work responsibilities while the available work force continues to shrink. Departmental directors and managers need to cover an extensive breadth of business duties along with Team resources. These duties often include the normal day-to-day business issues of running an efficient department while juggling Team member issues, vacancies, and budget management. Corporate goals, departmental goals, personal goals, and individual Team member goals are added to the stressful day of managing in our profession. This course will give you tools to leverage your entire Team and align them with the organizational goals that help your healthcare system, your department. This course will show you a goal setting strategy that will raise the accountability of your Team and tie directly into their year-end evaluations. The Team helps set their goals along with you, which leads to ownership of the goals. The art of delegation and accountability will help you manage.

You will learn to:

• Set goals
• Measure and track progress
• Raise accountability

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Disaster Planning: Are We Ever Really Prepared?


Ricky Stonicher, RT, MBA
East Jefferson General Hospital
Metairie, LA

While all of us are responsible for writing a disaster plan for the department, are we truly prepared when a disaster occurs? You will hear about a hospital that was in the path of the worst hurricane that has hit the United States. This session will describe the events that occurred and relay the decisions that worked and those that didn't. While the hospital was spared and was able to provide continuous service, it is now one of 3 working hospitals in the New Orleans area.

You will learn to:

• Understand disaster planning
• Make critical decisions
• Plan for recovery

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Slice Overload and the Enterprise-Wide Solution


Robert Taylor, PhD, ARCS, DIC, BSc(Hons)
TeraRecon, Inc.
Brisbane, CA

As Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) technology advances rapidly, new applications for Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) and MR are emerging, making them more competitive with other modalities. As a result, the radiological enterprise is subject to a deluge of slice data, precipitating an intense need for widespread access to 3D and post-processing capabilities, in order that these large volumetric examinations may be managed. This talk will review current 3D image management technology and paradigms, and then proceed to explore new workflow needs and the challenges faced in managing volumetric image data across the radiology enterprise. The various possible solutions to this new image management requirement will be described, compared and contrasted. A live demonstration of volumetric review will be performed. The challenges of bringing these new tools and applications into every day use will be explored. The presentation will identify integrated workflow solutions that aid radiologists, technologists, surgeons, and other referring physicians.

You will learn to:

• Identify the challenges faced by modern radiology due to huge MDCT studies and complex multi-phase Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) exams
• Explain and differentiate potential solutions to the slice overload problem
• Identify and recommend integrated workflow solutions that aid radiologists, technologists and surgeons.

12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Thursday Closing Luncheon
Keynote Speaker: David Naster