The California Medical Association (CMA) has withdrawn from a Blue Shield of California initiative to rate doctor performances because, according to CMA, the ratings have serious and disturbing flaws in how data is collected on physicians that result in gross inaccuracies. Blue Shield of California intends to publish its ratings June 1.

NovaRad has introduced its newest RIS/PACS designed for single radiologists, the NovaPRO.

Secure patient portals offer physicians and practices the opportunity to conduct virtual patient visits, but these electronic consults are not always reimbursed. Many who have ventured into this frontier say they look for softer ROIs such as patient satisfaction and practice efficiency.

Cardiology practices have always faced fairly distinctive coding and billing challenges. Rapidly declining reimbursement for key servicesincluding nuclear medicine, cath labs and consultationsnow makes it imperative for cardiology practices to capture and collect every legitimate charge.

Investing in ambulatory surgery centers provides physicians better profits and incentives, but is also linked with a high level of surgical volume, according to a study published in the April issue of HealthAffairs.

Patients who receive an audiotape of their consultation before undergoing heart surgery appear to have more knowledge about their procedures and their health, and also have reduced anxiety and depression, according to a study in this months Archives of Surgery.

Two Atlanta-based health systems, the Saint Josephs Health System and Piedmont Healthcare, have signed a letter of intent to begin discussions centering around the possibility of entering into an agreement to operate as a Joint Operating Company.

George E. Weems Memorial Hospital in Apalachicola, Fla., and Nephrology Associates of Central Florida in Winter Park, Fla., have selected to install radiology technologies from RIS/PACS provider NovaRad.