Defining the Value of Interventional Radiology to Healthcare Stakeholders: Proceedings from a Society of Interventional Radiology Research Consensus Panel

Health Services Research: A Review for the Interventional Radiologist

“…Although IR is essential to many revenue-generating hospital service lines and is viewed as valuable by referring physicians, there are challenges in clarifying the perception of IR for those outside of the specialty, including healthcare executives, insurance carriers/payers, mixed IR and diagnostic radiology practices, and patients. 27 This is especially important, as there is an increasing push toward value-based payments along with decreasing professional and technical reimbursements. A recent SIR research consensus panel concluded that proving and quantifying the value of IR will require large and diverse data sets, with well-equipped research teams and sophisticated research study designs.…”

“…A recent SIR research consensus panel concluded that proving and quantifying the value of IR will require large and diverse data sets, with well-equipped research teams and sophisticated research study designs. 27 In order to carry out this value-centric, outcomes-based research, they suggested the development of a publicly available code set for minimally invasive procedures in IR and the development of alliances with other organizations to support complex data collection and analysis.…”

Role of Interventional Radiology in the Management of Non-aortic Thoracic Trauma

“…Some advantages to image-guided therapies provided by IR include its offering of a minimally invasive therapeutic approach that reduces hospitalization, length of stay (LOS), as well as overall healthcare costs, while providing the high potential for improving morbidity and mortality. 5 Initial clinical assessment is guided by mechanism of injury. While statistics may vary geographically, overall less than 10% of blunt chest injuries and approximately 15 to 30% of penetrating chest injuries in unstable victims will require some type of operative management.…”

“…Some advantages to image-guided therapies provided by IR include its offering of a minimally invasive therapeutic approach that reduces hospitalization, length of stay (LOS), as well as overall healthcare costs, while providing the high potential for improving morbidity and mortality. 5…”

Working with Hospital Administration: Strategies for Success

“…Even in the setting of non-employed physicians working within health care systems, there are inevitable needs that must be met by both sides to deliver safe, quality, and appropriate care to patients. Bringing the value of IR to a health care delivery system is an important foundational component to any discussion revolving around contribution to an organization, 2 but it is only one necessary step. In some systems, other physician-system alignments are also necessary, such as those seen with faith-based organizations.…”