The mission of the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute® is to establish foundational evidence for health policy and radiology practice that promotes the effective and efficient use of health care resources and improves patient care.
This study gauges the knowledge of radiology trainees regarding the costs of common imaging services and to assess their perceptions of current relevant education. Full Article
Vijayasarathi, A., Hawkins, C.M., Hughes, D.R., Mullins, M.E., and Duszak Jr, R. 2015. "How Much do Common Imaging Studies Cost? A Nationwide Survey of Radiology Trainees," American Journal of Roentgenology, 205(5): 929 - 935.
This study examines longitudinal trends in screening mammography utilization and the presence of any changes in utilization associated with the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guideline change. Full Article
Jiang M., Hughes D.R., & Duszak Jr. R.. 2015. "Screening Mammography Rates in the Medicare Population Before and After the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guideline Change: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis," Women's Health Issues, 25(3): 239 - 245.
This study assess the perceptions of primary care physicians about the value of advanced medical imaging. Full Article
Hughes, C. M., Kramer, E., Colamonico, J., & Duszak, R.. 2015. "Perspectives on the Value of Advanced Medical Imaging: A National Survey of Primary Care Physicians," Journal of American College of Radiology, 12(5): 458 - 462.
This study compares the utilization of diagnostic imaging between advanced practice clinicians - specifically nurse practitioners and physician assistants - and primary care physicians. Full Article
Hughes, D.R., Jiang, M., Duszak, R. 2015. "A Comparison of Diagnostic Imaging Ordering Patterns Between Advanced Practice Clinicians and Primary Care Physicians Following Office-Based Evaluation and Management Visits," JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(1): 101 - 107.
January 13, 2015
In his popular tome, Innovator’s Prescription, Clayton Christensen proposes several cures to healthcare’s cost disease, known as disruptive innovations. One is the replacement of physicians by advanced practice clinicians (APCs). That is by nurse practitioners and physician assistants. APCs meet the requirements for Christenson’s disruptive innovators: they cost less (than physicians) and are good enough. Read More
This study examines recent trends in adherence to continuous screening, especially the rate of subsequent screening mammography following an initial screening before and after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) revised its guidelines on breast cancer in November 2009. Full Article
Jiang, M., Hughes, D. R., Appleton, C. M., McGinty, G., & Duszak, R.. 2015. "Recent Trends in Adherence to Continuous Screening for Breast Cancer Among Medicare Beneficiaries," Preventive Medicine, 73(2015): 47 - 52.
November 24, 2014
Increasing the use of advanced practice clinicians is crucial to meeting America’s shortage of primary care providers — but careful attention must made to ensure this doesn’t inappropriately increase the use of diagnostic services. Read More
The aim of this study is to evaluate whether patients who are both employed and insured alter their utilization of medical services in response to changes in state unemployment rates. Full Article
Hughes, D. R., & Khaliq, A. A.. 2014. "The Effect of Macroeconomic Conditions on the Care Decisions of the Employed," Medical Care, 52(2): 121 - 127.
The aim of this study was to quantify potential physician work efficiencies and appropriate multiple procedure payment reductions for different same-session diagnostic imaging studies interpreted by different physicians in the same group practice. Full Article
Duszak, R., Silva, E., Kim, A. J., Barr, R. M., Donovan, W. D., Kassing, P., McGinty, G., Allen, B.. 2013. "Professional Efficiencies for Diagnostic Imaging Services Rendered by Different Physicians: Analysis of Recent Medicare Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction Policy," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 10(9): 682 - 688.
The aim of this study was to examine characteristics of uncompensated services rendered by radiologists to emergency department (ED) patients. Full Article
Duszak, R., Nsiah, E., Hughes, D. R., & Maze, J.. 2013. "Emergency Department Imaging: Uncompensated Services Rendered by Radiologists Nationwide," Journal of the American College of Radiology, 11(6): 559 - 565.