Premerus Presents Radiology Cost Simulation Study At Nation's First Diagnostic Error In Medicine Conference

Main Category: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Article Date: 31 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Premerus, the industry's first and only diagnostic management company (www.premerus.com) will deliver a poster presentation, "Improving Diagnostic Accuracy in Radiologist's Interpretations with Potential Savings," at the nation's first-ever national conference dedicated specifically to diagnostic error in medicine, May 31, 2008, Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix, AZ. Co-sponsored by American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the conference will bring together some of the nation's leading experts in diagnostic medicine to summarize the current state of the field by reviewing research in the clinical and cognitive sciences, and to catalyze emerging ideas that should be implemented to minimize diagnostic error in the future.

Based on the results of a Premerus study comparing the medical imaging interpretations of general radiologists to those of subspecialty radiologists, the presentation will show a 44 percent level of non-concordance (disagreement) in interpretation between the two groups. The study concludes that subspecialty readings were found more likely to be accurate and efficient, with significant potential cost savings. With these results, Premerus estimates that subspecialty radiology can generate savings to health plans and benefits payers of approximately $4.45 per member per month, or $53M annually for a million-member plan. There were 575,000 members in the heath plans studied, allowing for potential annual savings of over $27,000,000.

"While the downstream costs of inaccurate interpretations can be profound, they may be significantly reduced by utilizing radiology subspecialists," states Norman Scarborough, M.D., medical director of Premerus. "Minimizing diagnostic error is an essential aspect of patient safety. Going forward, it will be important to understand the causes of diagnostic errors, determine where the process goes astray and what steps can be taken to reduce their impact on patients."

Scarborough explains that medical imaging has become one of the cornerstones of modern diagnosis. As a result, radiologists and the imaging interpretations they provide are critical factors in the formation of many medical diagnoses. An error in image interpretation can result in an undesirable series of events leading to medical misadventure.

"This first-of-its-kind conference provides a valuable opportunity for all healthcare stakeholders to address medical misdiagnosis and take steps to mitigate its impact," says Scarborough. "We look forward to discussions with some of the nation's subject matter experts to explore solutions to the persistent problem of diagnostic error."

About Premerus

Premerus is the industry's first and only diagnostic management company, representing a new healthcare paradigm: the coordinated focus of resources, expertise and technology to improve the accuracy of diagnosis. Premerus is dedicated to advancing clinical accuracy through diagnostic excellence. Visit http://www.premerus.com.

Diagnostic Error in Medicine Conference

Diagnostic Error in Medicine will be held May 31 - June 1, 2008 immediately following the AMIA Spring Congress at the Arizona Grand Resort, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85044, (602) 438-9000; Reservations: (866) 267-1321. The opening session of the Conference will be at 1 PM on Saturday May 31, 2008, following the Spring Congress conclusion. The program will conclude at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 1.

http://www.premerus.com