From the November 2021 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
"Our next-gen fixed X-ray system, Definium Tempo was designed to be a personal assistant to radiologists and technologists - acting much like an in-room 'command center' and enabling the technologist to finish all exam setup and positioning work without having to leave the patient's side helping radiology departments deliver the best patient care possible," Tanya Lancaster, GE Healthcare - General Manager for Fixed X-ray, told HCB News.
Technologists, radiologists and radiology administrators are facing increased workloads and often endure heavy lifting, repetitive motions, uneasy patients and long hours in their daily work environment. More than 70% of technologies experience work-related injuries. In addition, variability in patient positioning and exam set up can lead to extra dose with retake imaging rates as high as 25%.
The console oversees all functionality, including patient selection, protocol selection, technique modification and positioning setup. With it, the technologist can set up the exam and position work without having to leave the patient’s side. Automated workflows support the exam, with auto positioning, auto centering and auto tracking.
Intermountain Healthcare launches Tellica Imaging for outpatient services
Intermountain Healthcare launched Tellica Imaging in October, a subsidiary company that will
open stand-alone outpatient imaging centers.
Equipped to provide noninvasive MR and CT imaging, the centers will be located at three Utah locations in Ogden, West Valley City and Orem, starting in late 2021. An additional five will be set up in 2022, with more to come in the following years. Costs for both services at Tellica locations will be flat-rate and below those of hospital-based imaging.
“While hospital-based imaging services remain an important part of the care process, particularly in emergency situations and when complex imaging services are needed, many patients prefer to access CT scan and MR imaging services in convenient settings closer to home,” said Nannette Berensen, vice president and chief operating officer of clinical shared services at Intermountain.
The company plans to hire approximately 20 employees to manage all three centers. Berensen will serve as the chair of the board and interim chief executive officer of Tellica Imaging, while Brad Isaacson, who joined Intermountain in 2015, will be its chief operating officer. Dr. Douglas Greally, who has served as associate medical director of imaging operations at Intermountain since 2018, will be the company’s chief medical officer.
The launch of Tellica Imaging may especially be beneficial for patients insured by UnitedHealthGroup, Anthem and Cigna, all of which are among insurance providers who have stopped covering MR and CT scans in hospital settings over the last few years and instead encourage patients to seek care at lower-cost stand-alone facilities, according to Modern Healthcare. Following “thoughtful” discussions with radiologists and radiology groups like ACR and SPR, Anthem recently adjusted this policy back in August by agreeing to cover children under 19 for imaging in hospitals.
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