KU Radiology - Alumni Newsletter Issue 2

ISSUE KU Radiology

02

AUG

2014

KU Faculty this issue

Philip Johnson, MD Letter from the Chairman P.1
Chairman Clinical Advances P.2

Alan Reeves, MD Update on Research P.3
Vice Chairman Imaging in the Ozarks P.4
Neuroradiology Section Head Update on Alumni Events P.5
Update on Education P.6
Louis Wetzel, MD
Vice Chairman Update on Faculty P.7
Body Imaging Section Head
Letter from the Chairman
Ryan Ash, MD
Medical Director Welcome to the summer edition of the Department of department. The department has been successful pioneering
Radiology Alumni Newsletter. This has been a very advanced imaging techniques and interventional radiology
Judson Bertsch, MD productive and successful academic year. Our faculty and procedures. Over the past 10 years we have experienced
Kevin Brown, MD staff are committed to excellence in providing outstanding significant growth in our clinical practice. Moreover, we have
Zachary Collins, MD patient-centered care, teaching medical students, residents placed a strategic priority on quality, safety and value. We now
and fellows, mentoring future leaders, and conducting have 33 radiologists and we have subspecialty expertise in all
Interventional Section Head clinical research. areas. There are 11 KU imaging sites throughout the Kansas
Glendon Cox, MD City Metro compared to just 3 in 2006. This academic year the
Joy Darrah, MD One of our most significant accomplishments was department performed over 350,000 exams and over 13, 000
Reginald Dusing, MD reaching our goal of funding the Norman L. Martin interventional radiology procedures. In fact, the interventional
Distinguished Teaching Professorship in Radiology. Norman radiology section ranks in the top 1% of patient visits for all
Nuclear Medicine Section Head and Shirley Martin established the professorship in 1996 with UHC academic programs.
Brian Everist, MD the intent of providing academic resources that develop
Thomas Fahrbach, MD interdisciplinary educational programs and nurture and mentor The department continues to have a highly successful
students to reach their potential. I can think of no one who residency program led by our program director, Dr. Shelby
Shelby Fishback, MD embodies the spirit of teaching better than Dr. Martin. He has a Fishback and a distinguished fellowship in Interventional
Residency Program Director 40-year record of dedication to teaching and he has made a radiology led by Dr. Zach Collins. We added fellowships in
positive impact on a generation of medical students and musculoskeletal radiology, breast radiology, neuroradiology,
Jason Gatewood, MD residents. He received numerous teaching awards during his body Imaging and a second fellow in interventional radiology. A
Crosby Gernon, MD career, including the Jayhawker MD Award, the Chancellor’s concerted effort to expand our role in medical student education
Jacqueline Hill, MPH, CHES Award for Excellence in Teaching and the W.T. Kemper Fellow has been guided by Dr. Kirk Miller.
for Teaching Excellence. He is truly an icon in our department.
Director of Research His prestigious endowed professorship will be awarded to a Enhancing our position as a recognized leader in research
Gary Hinson, MD radiology faulty member specifically to bolster the teaching of is a major priority. Our director of research, Jacqueline Hill,
medical students and residents during an Investiture Ceremony leads this effort. We have taken a both a top down and bottom
Musculoskeletal Section Head on November 18, 2014. I want to express my heart-felt up approach developing infrastructure, process, curricula and
Marc Inciardi, MD congratulations to Dr. Martin and my sincere thanks to all of you personnel. A domain that was once a weakness is now
who made contributions so that this could be possible. becoming a strength.
Breast Imaging Section Head
Neville Irani, MD We continue to strive to achieve excellence in the I have no allusions that the challenges will be easily met
domains of clinical care, education and research, which are or instantaneously achieved, but I am proud to say that we are
Director of Quality critical to our goal of becoming a premier academic radiology making progress and with the support of a strong alumni base, I
John Leever, MD am confident that we will achieve these goals.
Steven Lemons, MD
John Madarang, MD
Bradford McCrary, MD
Lucas Meek, MD

Cardiothoracic Section Head
Krik Miller, DO

Pediatric Section Head
Douglas Nelson, MD
Mark Perry, MD

Oncology Section Head
Kristen Pope, MD
Mark Redick, MD
Stanton Rosenthal, MD

Ultrasound Section Head
Pauline Sleder, MD
John Vadaparampil, MD
Onalisa Winblad, MD

Wendell Yap, MD

Destroying tumors A Paradigm for globally-billed radiology practices are millions lost in revenue
without surgery Radiology’s Future from denied payments. To referring physicians, lack of an in-
house solution means countless forms and hassles with third
REPRINT FROM BeWell Connection Neville Irani, MD parties for precertification. For payors, it means large contracts
with these third parties who collect hundreds of millions to run
For nearly a year, Hunter Cashatt, Over the past four years, all physicians have felt a disturbance the ‘benefits management’ operation. The rise of image
14, suffered from increasing leg in the deep $3.8 trillion ocean that is today’s health care utilization management as an ‘opportunity’ parallels the
pain that left him unable to run or sector. The flood waters unleashed and boulders displaced by transition in radiology practice from film based to PACS-based.
sleep throughout the night. The pain the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have brought varying degrees This occurred on a large scale starting in the mid-1990s and
kept him out of sports. of turbulence to different specialties. Indeed, in Radiology we accelerated through the early part of this century. The
have been directly in the path of a torrent of legislation starting increased distance between referring physician and radiologist
Hunter was eventually diagnosed with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (signed in 2006) which led to loss of communication about patient care and
with osteoid osteoma, a benign, pea- heralded the first of many cuts in imaging reimbursement. appropriate next steps. The report became the bridge to fill this
sized tumor inside his left shinbone. void and focus went to turn-around times rather than
Parents Luke and Heather feared he At KU, we are in the middle of a multi-year process of quantifying the value of dialogue about appropriate next steps
might be facing complex surgery. integration of all specialties to involve physicians in decision in patient care.
making at all levels. This move is a direct consequence of the
Seeking specialists, the Cashatts constraints imposed by the ACA. A model with physician With the presence of a large third party industry, the
drove four hours to the University of direction has long been in place at the Cleveland Clinic and the value of this dialogue can now be easily quantified.
Kansas Hospital – Indian Creek Mayo Clinic and is the route of choice to achieve the Radiologists have the opportunity to return to their roots as
Campus in southern Johnson County. efficiencies mandated by the ACA. Even the model of consultants, reclaiming the role of first mate in each episode of
government administered medicine (NHS in UK) recognized patient care. It certainly seems to be a better long term
They braced themselves after this fact by implementing physician-guided policies at the prospect than remaining on the fee for service cruise line that
further tests confirmed Hunter’s highest levels after spending on healthcare touched 9.9% of has been shot up by a series of congressional broadsides,
diagnosis. But what they learned next the UK's GDP in 2009. By comparison, in 2014 we find about listing towards stabilization on a sandbar. The opportunity with
was like winning the lottery. Dr. 18% of our nation's GDP is tied to healthcare. [WorldBank] image utilization management has been demonstrated at Beth
Zachary Collins and his team planned Israel Deaconess with inpatient consult services provided by
to eliminate Hunter’s tumor through Against this backdrop, there has been a national shift in radiologists who then also protocol the studies, informing
microwave ablation. payment methodologies to drive initiatives which deliver value. colleagues about appropriateness as necessary, and
Important among these is the transition from quality assurance otherwise providing a concierge level interaction which
That meant no surgery. No to performance improvement (PI). The former is a reactive impresses upon referring colleagues the value radiologists
overnight hospital stay. No long model utilized in activities such as M&M, peer review, and root bring to patient care.[ACR Journal Club, ACOs; Sept 2012]
recovery time at home. “Dr. Collins cause analysis. PI takes a proactive approach with lean
was very thorough in his explanation concepts from manufacturing to improve efficiencies, and uses In our own department, we have aligned our efforts with
and really helped us understand what data-driven decision making to eliminate defects (six sigma). organizational objectives to improve our breast imaging center.
was going to be involved,” Heather PI is sometimes also referred to as Quality Improvement and is It had been the focus of complaints from patients related to
said. “He even took pictures during the part of the ABR Maintenance of Certification project long wait times for diagnostic workup and from referring
procedure to show Hunter exactly how requirement. PI repurposes all of the activities of quality physicians due to inability to get patients seen in a timely
it took place after it was over.” assurance with a proactive scope that is systems oriented, manner.
patient focused, and disseminated to all members of the health
While microwave ablation is not care enterprise. Continued on pg.8
new, Dr. Collins’ team use the
NeuWave Medical® microwave Performance improvement has long been used in the KU Photography Services
ablation system – an improved, more business world to drive value. The tools for PI include
powerful version not available dashboards with operational metrics, relational coordination to
elsewhere in Kansas City. empower anyone to solve a problem unfolding in front of them
(breaking down silos), and transparency to facilitate progress
The incision on Hunter’s leg was toward common goals.
about the size of a freckle. He went
home the same day and was pain-free Implementing such a system in healthcare should start
within two day and a half days. with prioritization of improvement opportunities, such that our
endeavors are meaningful for the entire enterprise. Orienting
This summer finds Hunter playing limited resources to high value targets is important to achieve
second base in a new uniform and ear- outcomes which yield significant improvement in overall
to-ear grin, grateful to be back in the operations and patient care.
game.
A straightforward example of this for radiology could be
with image utilization management. The implications to most

P.2

Research
Highlights

Update in Research In 2014, our research efforts have
culminated in numerous abstracts
Over the past year, the Radiology The team presenter structure enables referral stream for our carbon-11 research accepted at professional meetings,
Department has continued to grow its trainees to lead discussions every year of study in nuclear medicine (see including four at the Radiology
research operations by focusing on their training. To allow for dedicated Researcher Highlight below). We are also Society of North America (RSNA),
three key areas: research education, mentorship time for data analysis and gearing up for an expanded Departmental an oral presentation at the Society
departmental clinical trials, and clinical manuscript development of projects, we role in research trials with the of Interventional Radiology, and two
trial collaborations. have created new research elective development of a new radiology research recent publications:
rotations for our PGY-5 residents. Finally, patient scheduling and billing process to
Recent Departmental emphasis on we are in the process of designing a two- standardize patient flow processes and x Mick CG, James T, Hill J,
research education include continuance year business leadership curriculum in improve satisfaction. Williams P & Perry M. (2014).
of the new research curriculum partnership with the Radiology Leadership Molecular Imaging in
implemented in July 2013, restructure of Institute that will result in Level 1 Finally, the Department has actively Oncology: 18F-Sodium
our journal club, implementation of a new certification for all participants (trainees cultivated clinical trial collaborations Fluoride PET Imaging of
PGY-5 year elective research rotation, and faculty) who complete the required around KU with a focus on neurology, Osseous Metastatic Disease.
and development of a new business activities. The curriculum will initially focus cardiology, trauma/emergency medicine, American Journal of
leadership curriculum. Our research on finance, legal and regulatory, and oncology. We have reviewed over Radiology, 203(2): 263-7.
curriculum requires each resident and professional development, and quality and 200 research protocols and advised (PMID: 25055258)
fellow to lead, present, and publish at safety topics for radiologists. institutional investigators about radiology
least one major scholarly activity during The Department has also increased its services, resulting in 22 radiologists x Dusing RW, Peng W, Lai SM,
training. Currently, all our former PGY-2 involvement in clinical trials through added as sub-investigators on twelve Grado GL, Holzbeierlein JM,
residents (who were the initial class under investment in targeted patient enrollment clinical trials. Additionally, we have Thrasher B, Hill J & Van
the new curriculum) have IRB-approved and infrastructure development. These developed a strong neuroscience Veldhuizen PJ. (2014).
research projects underway. efforts have resulted in steady enrollment research partnership and are working to Prostate-Specific Antigen and
that has placed KU among the top solidify new institution-wide research Prostate-Specific Antigen
Our journal clubs have been institutions in two interventional radiology processes in preparation for opening Velocity as Threshold
restructured to focus on new clinical and trials and secured a steady national several cutting-edge stroke trials at KU Indicators in 11C-Acetate
research topics to demonstrate applying Hospital. PET/CTAC Scanning for
evidence-based research into practice. Prostate Cancer Recurrence.
Clinical Nuclear Medicine,
Researcher Highlight (epub ahead of print). (PMID:
25036021)
KUMC remains the region’s only institution In a recently released publication of our
to offer carbon-11 acetate PET scans for the experience with the first 250 patients, we found Numerous additional research
detection of recurrent prostate cancer. that patients with PSA values greater than 1.24 projects are currently under
ng/mL (OR=12.4, 95% CI=4.93-31.25) or who development, while others are
Dr. Dusing has been investigating the have a PSA velocity greater than 1.32 ng/mL per collecting data in preparation for
utility of various radiopharmaceuticals to more year (OR=8.7, 95% CI=1.91-39.25) are more manuscript submissions. We are
reliably detect prostate cancer, which is a likely to have positive findings for recurrence on looking forward to sharing our
growing concern with nearly 15% of U.S. men their carbon-11 scan. Future research efforts are findings from these projects in the
diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in incorporating these values, among other near future with additional
their lifetime. He has been conducting several characteristics, into the development of a presentations and publications.
clinical research trials at KUMC over the past prospective, biopsy-proven study to validate the
six years exploring the use of carbon-11 accuracy of the scan. Dr. Dusing hopes to P.3P.3
acetate in detecting recurrent prostate cancer Reginald Dusing, MD explore the utility of these values and other
after surgery, brachytherapy, or external beam radiopharmaceuticals in future research projects.
radiation using PET/CTAC imaging.

Sponsored by the University of Kansas Department of Radiology and University of Kansas Medical Center Continuing Education & Professional Development

Course Faculty

Teresita Angtuaco, MD, Professor of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
Ryan Ash, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Jennifer Demertzis, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Mallincrokdt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine,

St. Louis, MO
Kathryn Fowler, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Mallincrokdt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine,

St. Louis, MO
Marc Inciardi, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Neville Irani, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
David Laszakovits, MBA, Director, Certification Services, American Board of Radiology, Tucson, AZ
Kirk Miller, DO, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Mark Perry, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Alan Reeves, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Louis Wetzel, MD, Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

Easy ways to register

Mail Complete the registration form and mail with payment to: Phone Toll-free 877-404-5823 or 785-864-5823
The University of Kansas Continuing Education Registrations Fax 785-864-4871
1515 Saint Andrews Drive Lawrence, KS 66047-1619 Web kumcce.ku.edu/imaging-ozarks

Please Print
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Please do not include my information on the participant roster.

Fees – Physician - $395
P.4

Norman Martin Distinguished Teaching Professorship
in Radiology Activated

The fund honors Norman L. Martin, MD, Class of 1970, a KU medical school
alumnus and professor in the University of Kansas Department of Radiology from 1970 to
2011 who coordinated the medical student experience in diagnostic radiology. Dr. Martin’s
passion for teaching and mentoring helped shape the careers of more than 2,000 medical
students and 150 residents.

This professorship provides annual financial support for a faculty member who
demonstrates excellence in teaching. The endowed professorship will be awarded to a
radiology faculty member specifically to bolster the teaching of medical students, residents,
radiologists, nurses, staff and allied professionals.

The investiture for this professorship will be Tuesday, November 18, 2014. Additional details will be posted on our website,
www.kumc.edu/rad, under the alumni section when they become available.

If you would like to make a donation to this fund, or for more information, please contact Peggy Person at 913.588.5441 or
[email protected].

Mark Murphey, MD, at the kick-off of the
new AIRP course in Silver Springs, MD.

Update on Alumni Events Mark Murphey, MD, graduated from
our residency program in 1986. He
Douglas Nelson, MD, Class of 1989 and Kirk Miller, DO, Class of 2007 received musculoskeletal fellowship
training at University of California, San
The KU Department of Radiology is continuing to grow in many new and exciting ways. In the last year, there have been Diego and Mallinckrodt Institute of
several significant developments in our outreach to our alumni, our renewed commitment to continuing medical education, and Radiology. He then joined our faculty,
the Norman L. Martin Endowed Professorship. eventually becoming the Section head
for Musculoskeletal Radiology until
In June 2013, the department hosted its first annual alumni weekend. Alumni from around the country returned to Kansas 1993, when he joined the Armed
City to attend social events and a continuing medical education course hosted by the department. The speakers for the CME Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP)
course were all alumni of our program. This course was significant as it represented the first educational course for practicing as their Chief of Musculoskeletal
physicians that the department has hosted since 1987! In response to the positive reception of this initial event, we hosted a Radiology. In 2011, Dr. Murphey
second alumni weekend in June of this year. We were pleased to have as our keynote speaker Mark Murphey, MD, FACR, became the Physician-in-Chief of the
Physician-In-Chief of the American Institute of Radiologic Pathology. In addition to the educational course, we included a new newly restructured ACR American
event which the department hosted in partnership with the KU Endowment Association titled the “Taste of Kansas City Institute of Radiologic Pathology
Reception” featuring fine food establishments from the local community. For next year’s event, we will incorporate 5-year class (AIRP) in Silver Springs, MD.
reunions into the weekend.
He is a prolific researcher,
Building upon the successes of these events, the KU Department of Radiology will be hosting a third continuing medical award-winning teacher, and leader in
education event on October 11-12, 2014, at the Big Cedar Lodge south of Branson, Missouri (see pg 4). We are now striving to the Radiology community. Our
expand our educational outreach and become a regional leader in radiology education in the central and southern Midwest. This program was pleased to host him as
event will feature several of our own staff as well as speakers from Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, the University of our keynote speaker for the 2nd Annual
Arkansas, and the American Board of Radiology. Alumni Imaging Course last June.

Alumni are always welcome to visit the department and there are many ways you can become involved. The department is Want to nominate an alumnus
re-instating alumni case conference/lectures for the academic year. Having our alumni members give resident conferences is a for the newsletter? Email
great added educational resource. Additionally, it gives the alumni the opportunity to become acquainted with the current [email protected]
residents. We invite you to come by for a tour, share cases, or share stories.
P.5

Interventional Update on Education
Radiology
Fellowship to Shelby Fishback, MD, Program Director, Class of 2010
Convert to IR/DR
Residency The graduating class of 2014 Class of 2014 Radiology Residency Graduates
successfully passed the first
ACGME has just closed the ABR Core Exam on the first Front Row (L-R):
comment period on the attempt giving us a 100% Benjamin Saverino, MD – Musculoskeletal Fellowship
proposed program Board pass rate for the past 8
requirements for the new years! In addition, they have University of Texas, Houston
Interventional/Diagnostic all placed well for fellowship. Tiffany Lewis, DO – Breast Fellowship
Radiology Residency program.
Interested programs are waiting Mayo, Scottsdale
for the final requirements to be Shaun Best, MD – Body Fellowship
published so they may apply for
accredited residency. University of California, San Diego

The IR/DR categorical Back Row (L-R):
residency certificate was Zachary Boyd, MD – Body Fellowship
approved by ABMS in 2013. In
the new residency program, Johns Hopkins University
graduates would receive the Aaron Kovaleski, MD – Interventional Fellowship
equivalent of a two-year focused
interventional fellowship in the University of Kansas
same amount of time as a Christopher Connor, MD – Neuroradiology Fellowship
diagnostic residency and
traditional fellowship (see below). Mallinckrodt

Beyond Imaging: What Will KU Rustain Morgan, MD, Class of 2015
Residents Bring to Your Practice x Scholarship to the ACR RLI
Leadership Summit in Babson
Given the timing of the ABR Core Exam, residents will have College in Wellesley, MA
significant elective time in areas of their choosing during their x Will serve as American
final year of residency including a new elective experience on Alliance of Academic Chief
Radiology Consult Service, where senior radiology residents Residents in Radiology
have “imaging rounds” with clinical teams. Residents are also (A3CR2) Program Chair this
now receiving specific training in leadership, business of year
Radiology and research. x Senior Chief Resident
2014-2015

First Year Residents (PGY 2 – Class of 2018)

Programs will now have Kevin Denton, MD Kenny Fearn, MD Maryam Niroumand, Kaley Pippin, MD Aaron Rohr, MD Kristin Williams,
flexibility in recruiting candidates. MD MD
As it is currently envisioned,
trainees may enter the IR Univ of Nebraska Univ of Kansas Univ of Oklahoma Univ of Kansas Univ of Kansas Univ of Kansas
residency at several points: SOM SOM SOM SOM SOM SOM

• Medical school match into Body Imaging Fellow Breast Imaging Musculoskeletal Vasc/Int Radiology Vasc/Int Radiology
PGY2 2014-2015 Fellow Radiology Fellow Fellow Fellow
• Transfer from DR into
PGY 3-6 (provided entry 2014-2015 2014-2015 2014-2015 2014-2015
criteria are met)
• Transfer into PGY 6 Tim Manda, MD Kelly Kersey, MD Brian Hamm, MD Aaron Kovaleski, MD Ben Maertins, MD
(provided DR residents
have completed 13 IR or St. Louis Univ - Diag Univ of South AL – Creighton – Diag Rad Univ of Kansas – St. Joseph’s Hosp -
IR-related rotations) Rad Diag Rad Diag Rad Diag Rad
• Entry into R4 after
completion of a DR
residency
Our department intends to apply
for the IR/DR residency at the
first opportunity.

P.6

New Faculty

Brian “Mac” Everist, MD Kristen Pope, MD, Class of 2006 Onalisa Winblad, MD, Class of 2013
Musculoskeletal Imaging Cardiothoracic Imaging Breast Imaging

Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester Residency: Univ of Kansas Residency: Univ of Kansas
Fellowship: MSK – Univ of CA, San Francisco Fellowship: Abd/Thoracic – Univ of CA, San Francisco Fellowship: Breast – Mallinckrodt

Faculty Spotlight

Glen Cox, MD, Class of 1984 metropolitan area, Overland Park Radiologists, PA. chapters, 73 papers, 72 published abstracts, has

2014 Distinguished Medical Alumnus While he enjoyed the work of organizing a new delivered over 100 presentations and participated
The Distinguished Medical Alumnus award is
given by the KU Medical Alumni Association corporation, his heart remained in academic in 78 scientific or poster presentations at national
annually to living graduates. The award
recognizes an individual's noteworthy medicine and he maintained a clinical academic meetings.
contributions to the University of Kansas, their
field and to the health of all people through appointment throughout his time in private practice. Dr. Cox has four children, Geoffrey, Jessica,
patient care, basic and clinical research,
teaching skills and/or health services In 1993, Dr. Cox returned to KUMC as Professor Justin and Daniel, and two grandchildren, Amelia
administration. The recipients demonstrate the
highest principles of the health care with tenure of Radiology and Medicine and head of Jane (3 years) and Samuel Oliver (3 months). In
professions and serve as a role model for
current and future health care professionals. the Section of Thoracic Radiology. In 1994, Dr. Cox addition to Dr. Cox, his wife Karen, Geoffrey, Justin

Dr. Glen Cox attended the University of and wife Anne, and Daniel are all proud graduates
Kansas, completing his B.A. with Honors in Facul ty Spotligh twas asked to put the business and organizational
Chemistry in 1977. As a senior at the University, skills that he had acquired in the private sector to of the University of Kansas.
he was selected for membership in Phi Beta
Kappa. Dr. Cox completed his MD at the work for the school of medicine by leading a task The award will be presented during Alumni
University of Kansas in 1980 as member of the
Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He was force to review the salary structure of the faculty in Reunion Weekend at the Alumni Awards Luncheon
accepted for postgraduate medical education at
University of Kansas. Following residency, he was the school of medicine. In January 1996, he was on Friday, October 10.
recruited to stay on as faculty in the department,
moving from Assistant to Professor to Associate selected for his first formal administrative role in the
Professor to Professor in 1987 and subsequently
achieving tenure in 1989. school as Associate Dean for Graduate Medical

In 1990, Dr. Cox became one of the three Education. After leading the effort culminating in a
founding partners of a newly organized private
practice of radiology in the Kansas City successful ACGME reaccreditation of the Medical

Center, he moved to the newly organized position

of Vice Dean of the medical school in 2001. In

2008, after resigning the position of Vice Dean,

he was appointed Interim Chair of the Health Policy

and Management, and Director of the Institute of

Community and Public Health, becoming the

permanent chair in 2009. In 2012, Dr. Cox was

asked to reprise his role in medical education as

the Senior Associate Dean to lead a second

successful LCME reaccreditation.

Dr. Cox completed master’s degrees in both

business administration and health services

administration in 2004. He has authored 13 book

P.7

We want to A Paradigm for Radiology’s Future Continued from pg. 2
know where
you are now! This was compounded by insufficient technologist staffing at a time when the health system was increasing the scope of
breast services by doubling the number of surgical staff. Our approach to scope this problem grew out of techniques and
Recently married? New practices of our research team. We collected data on patient times in the department at each stage of their visit to determine
child? New promotion? New points where our operation could be made more efficient.
publication?
Our findings led to actions in three discrete areas. The first was schedule rebalancing. We used performance data to
Let us know! determine of how long screening and diagnostic mammograms actually took to complete and scheduled patients
accordingly. The longest wait times were observed to be in the middle of the day, so redistribution of appointments to more
Dept of Radiology afternoon and evening slots help ease mid-day delays. The second area of improvement was in technologist workflow. A
3901 Rainbow Blvd comparison of batch review (diagnostic mammograms where one technologist showed multiple cases) versus serial review
MS 4032 (ultrasound where the performing technologist reviewed just her case) workflow revealed that patients left the department
Kansas City, KS 66160 quicker with serial radiologist review by an average of 12 minutes. The third area related to optimization of technologist
(913) 588-5887 staffing. Assuming all available patient slots are booked, having one more technologist than the total number of your rooms
[email protected] will yield the fastest throughput for patients. For this, we needed to hire more technologists to optimally staff our three
different breast imaging locations.
P.8
During the fourth quarter of this year, when volumes through breast imaging are the highest, we will recollect data on
patient times in the center to verify that the changes had the desired effect of reducing patient wait times and improved
patient satisfaction.

The steps of our breast imaging project conform to the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle intrinsic to an ABR PQI
project. With these projects, the PI paradigm is now an integral part of Maintenance of Certification. Indeed, the Sun Valley
group's white paper in 2006 on improving quality marked the start of what is now the annual ACR Safety & Quality
Conference. This is held in Phoenix every February and is a good place to exchange ideas and discuss potential solutions
to common problems. We hope to see some of you there.

KU Radiology Issue 02 Aug 2014

3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Mailstop 4032
Kansas City, Kansas 66160
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913.588.7899 fax
www.kumc.edu/rad

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