Whitney Palmer

Comprehensive web-based veterinary PACS

By Whitney J. Palmer

Veterinary diagnostic imaging might comprise a fraction of all medical imaging use globally, but it’s still set to be a $3.27 billion market by 2025, according to market and consumer research firm Business Research, Co. From small veterinary practices to referral practices to hospitals, a growing number of facilities are expanding how they use digital imaging to maintain the highest level of pet care available.

In fact, more and more veterinarians, like their human-health counterparts, are realizing a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), such as PaxeraHealth’s PaxeraVet, is the most efficient tool to manage the ever-expanding volume of diagnostic images they produce and use on a daily basis.

Multiple factors are pushing this trend. Pet owners are asking veterinarians to use diagnostic imaging modalities, including MRI and CT, to pinpoint their fur babies’ ailments. Concerns continue to rise over cancer and tumors in smaller pets, fueling imaging use in neurology and oncology, as well as cardiology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation. And, as more pet owners purchase pet insurance, fewer are shying away from these costly exams.

PaxeraVet is a browser-based PACS solution that helps animal health providers effectively meet their treatment goals, offering many of the same capabilities available on human-health imaging systems. It supports all DICOM modalities and includes a veterinary-specific work list that is searchable by breed, species, and owner’s name.

Like all medical professionals, veterinarians need access to their patients’ medical histories. PaxeraVet gives providers a comprehensive timeline of a pet’s health by compiling each animal’s files into individual records. The system also enables viewing of two studies simultaneously on a split-screen, making it easy to compare prior and current images.

Thorough imaging reports also bolster the quality of veterinary care. To create the most information-dense records, PaxeraVet offers a reporting and transcription tool that allows users to insert images, add a customized facility logo, and include an auto header. Image processing tools also support the inclusion of filters, annotations, measurements, and details about region of interest and vertebral heart scoring.

When it comes to maximizing quality of care and collaboration, though, sharing images can be vital. Frequently, diagnostic findings can mandate sending an animal to a specialist. With PaxeraVet, general veterinarians can easily share anonymized or non-anonymized images with outside facilities through the system’s zero-footprint viewer.

With a click of a button, providers can generate unique links to specific studies, determine how long specialists can access the scan, and email the image. Special access or permission isn’t required, and the images will open on all devices, including PCs, MACs, tablets, and smartphones. Once the image is closed, all traces of the zero-footprint viewer disappear from the device.

Overall, PaxeraVet is a PACS designed to support veterinarians both in their day-to-day work flow and in cases where more specialized treatment is required. The ultimate goal is offering pet owners the highest quality of care is the most expedient way possible.

To read the article at its original location: https://PaxeraHealth.com/2018/02/16/comprehensive-web-based-veterinary-pacs/

May 17, 2018 Posted by wjpalmer | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How to Increase Reimbursements

Published on the March 15, 2018 DiagnosticImaging.com website

By Whitney J. Palmer

For the second year running, the coding and reimbursement world is relatively calm for diagnostic imaging. Instead of seeing massive payment cuts or a slew of changes to codes this year, you’re simply going to have to wait longer for your money.

But, even that lag time can cause problems, industry experts say.

Over the next several months, there are a few things you should watch for—they could add dollars to your bottom line.

National Correct Coding Initiative Edits

If you do many chest X-rays with abdominal studies, chances are you’ve noticed your claims have been denied all year. According to Maria Tran, assistant director of coding for the American College of Radiology (ACR), the reason is simple. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) included unannounced edits in the 2018 final rule.

It’s an oversight that took the industry by surprise, and its schedule will be corrected by April 1 as part of the National Correct Coding Initiative edits. Still, until that date, getting reimbursement for those claims will be difficult.

You do have options, however, to facilitate payment:

1. You can hold on to any chest X-ray with abdominal studies claims from January 1 to March 31 of this year and submit them after April 1.

2. You can continue to have your staff submit the claims, receive the denial, and correct the claim for re-submission.

3. You can code for the procedure differently. Instead of using 71045, single view chest X-ray, to code for the procedure, submit 74018, one view abdominal X-ray, with a -59 CPT modifier. Pursuing reimbursement this way will ensure you’ll receive payment for both services provided between January 1 and March 31.

If you work for a practice that operates in several states, though, be sure everyone is consistent, says Karna Morrow, diagnostic coding trainer for CSI Coding Strategies. Otherwise, some of you will get paid, and others won’t.

Most importantly, she says, choose a claim submission strategy that works best for you. Assess your financial situation and what might be most beneficial for your practice.

“Evaluate your operational needs and make a decision,” she said. “That way, you can make a conscious decision instead of just pushing everything out the door and getting denials.”

To read the remainder of the article published at its original location: http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/reimbursement/how-increase-reimbursements

May 17, 2018 Posted by wjpalmer | Uncategorized | Leave a comment