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Comply with FDA regulations and interpret the Mammography Quality Standards Act with Mammography Regulation Report.

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Mammography Regulation and Reimbursement Report

Issue 3, March 1, 2005

• Ensure image quality and comfort when working with obese patients

  With obesity rates soaring, it is more likely than ever that you will encounter overweight patients...

• A higher standard in mammography CE is quickly approaching

  Any individual who has met the MQSA requirements is qualified to practice mammography. But meeting...

• HIPAA security rule implementation date draws near

  The government plans to begin enforcing the HIPAA security rule on April 21, ready or not...

Issue 9, September 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Inside: Case study: Cultural sensitivity may pay off in your bottom line

  Being sensitive to a woman’s cultural background not only makes for a more comfortable...

• Clinical vs. correlative breast exam: Weighing the value and the risk

  A clinical breast exam (CBE) is a critical component of mammography, and studies have shown that...

• Reduce your malpractice risk by focusing on patients

  More patients sue for malpractice related to delays in breast cancer diagnoses than any other area...

Issue 8, August 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Case study: Beating burnout, reducing job stress

  October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and although it boosts efforts to get women focused on...

• ACR representative answers questions about accreditation questionnaire

  Mammography facilities have raised concerns about the American College of Radiology’s (ACR...

• Ease patient anxiety to improve mammography screenings

  Nearly all patients experience anxiety when they come in for a mammogram. But not all of them...

• Protect your organization from liability: Educate patients about breast exams

  By Bonnie Rush. RT(R)(M)(QM) When most women think of breast cancer screening exams, they think...

Issue 7, July 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• FDA annual report: Image quality problems a persistent problem

  On June 7, the FDA released its 2004 Facility Adverse Event and Action Report, which is a...

• Get some guts: Strong leadership can turn your practice into a winner

  If your organization has a bad attitude, stop hiring people based on skill and start hiring them...

• Keep your business on track by holding employees and yourself accountable

  The key to successful management is accountability, because without accountability, it is difficult...

• Taking self-referred patients may be risky

  With litigation being a major concern for mammography facilities, you can’t afford a lack of...

Issue 6, June 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Give patients same-day results

  When the Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic in Rochester, NY, opened in 1976, founder Wende Logan Young...

• Use these tips to educate physicians about screening v. diagnostic exams

  If a referring physician doesn’t understand the differences between screening and diagnostic...

• RTs play a critical role in billing and coding

  When referring physicians do not provide diagnostic information that documents the reason for the...

• Ensure a viable outcomes audit

  Facilities that use audit software might assume that the information it produces can be reliably...

• Protect your mammo department from construction dust

  If your organization is planning a construction project in the near future, make sure it takes...

Issue 5, May 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Use volunteers to improve customer satisfaction-at no additional cost

  "Reader ideas at work" is a new column that will run periodically in MRRR celebrating our readers...

• Make corrections before inspection to avoid violations

  Life is never perfect-and that's especially true in mammography. It's likely that every facility...

• Views and clues

  Editor's note: These questions were answered by MRRR advisor Melody Mulaik, MSHS, CPC; CPC-H, RCC...

• Managing: Five tips to reduce employee turnover

  High turnover-defined as 50% or more of your employees leaving and being replaced within three...

Issue 4, April 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Digital mammography may increase physician malpractice risk

  A shift toward digital mammography is often seen as step forward, a means of improving image...

• Incompletes can lead to inspection violations

  Prior to the implementation of the MQSA Reauthorization Act of 1999, women marched on Washington...

Issue 3, March 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

Issue 2, February 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Digital mammography: Easing the transition for radiologists

  Editor's note: This is the first part in a series devoted to digital mammography. Over the next few...

• Regulators eyeing administrative services agreements

  With radiologists in short supply, many hospitals are turning to innovative retention strategies...

• FDA inspection study says no reduction in frequency for MQSA inspections

  Rush is the president of BIS Breast Imaging Specialists (www.mammobis.com), which provides...

Issue 1, January 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Auditing your false positive and false negative mammograms

  The discovery of a false-negative mammogram can strike fear into the heart of any auditor. After...

Issue 12, December 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Special circumstances: Imaging pregnant and lactating women

  A new mother who breastfeeds her child finds a lump in her breast. A woman comes in for a mammogram...

• It takes a solid team effort to pass MQSA inspection without problems

  Often when a facility is cited for an MQSA violation, poor teamwork is at the root of the problem...

• Master appeals with these seven steps

  Insurance carriers report that 90% of all improperly reimbursed payments are never appealed for...

• Take five steps to terminate managed care contracts

  If you have a managed care contract that is no longer profitable, you’ll need to take several...

Issue 11, November 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• The digital transition: Image quality benefits come with slow payoff

  Digital technology has brought benefits to the Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic in Rochester, NY, but...

• NMQAAC mulls biopsy procedures and equipment accreditation

  Mandatory accreditation for stereotactic breast biopsy procedures and equipment may soon appear on...

• Patient relations tips: Women with disabilities

  The annual mammogram can be a nerve-wracking experience for most women, but for those with...

Issue 10, October 1, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• In the battle between digital and analog, digital comes out on top

  The results of the highly anticipated Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST) are in...

• CR mammography: A digital technology option on the horizon

  Many facilities have waited for the results of the digital mammography screening imaging trial...

• A prescription for successful physician relations

  It’s a problem with which most facilities struggle: A patient arrives for a mammogram with a...

• The FDA’s policy guidance help system can help your facility stay out of trouble

  Editor’s note: Oakey is the mammography coordinator for the state of Florida and a certified...

• Navigating the codes for breast biopsy procedures

  Editor’s note: This month’s expert is Stacie Buck, RHIA, LHRM, vice president of...