Practice Management

Gregory, 24-48 is old school when you need transcription.  3-4 hours is not an unreasonable request.  We have been reporting TAT's to the ACR Registry for part of the MIPS and we our Mean is well under 2 hours measured over a month period for US.

John Griffith

Administrator

2929 5^th Street, Suite 230

Rapid City, SD  57701

Office: 605.721.8545

Fax: 605.721.8827

JGriffith@dakota-radiology.com

www.dakota-radiology.com

Greg

The best TAT data source I know of is the ACR QCDR MIPS measures.

Of course, how you define the KPI is critical...average vs. some percentage within the target, as well as real time vs. business hours. 

We can generally achieve an average of around 3 business hours for routine outpatient ultrasounds, but it's probably not something I would commit to in a contract because things happen and circumstances change.

Dave

       David Smith, FACMPE  |  Executive Director  |  785.393.8387

5800 Foxridge Dr.  Ste 240  |  Mission, KS  66202  |  www.uickc.com

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3 hours is not typical. Most groups are in the 24 hour range or 1 business day for outpatient turn around....

Dan – I'm not aware of a national set of data available for TAT. The ACR does have a set of TAT metrics within their QCDR, but you must participate with the registry to have access to the practice level and aggregate level data.

To your question about TAT changing, yes it is – for all of the reasons you outlined. Most of the PSAs I see currently are looking at STATS at 30 minutes and even a few are at 45 minutes no matter the point of origin, except the Stroke cases which still must meet the standard for the level of Stroke Center applicable.

Most Non-STAT ED work is going to 60 minutes and in some cases 90 minutes. This of course has the ED docs upset because that slows bed turn-over-rate and thus decreases their revenue production and bonus capability.

IP has moved up to 4 to 6 hours for non-urgent services even though hospitals are still trying to push for 1 – 2 hours due to the cost of bed occupancy.

OP is still hanging around 1 business day which is a bit of a change from the older 24 hour approach. This has allowed for some respite on weekends, but does make Monday an even greater burden.

Groups that can show the actual demand for services and their ability to meet that demand are having the most success in getting TATs changed on a "temporary" basis until volumes stabilize and the recruiting market adapts to the new environment. My personal feeling is that when you establish an open communication about what is going on and why, unless the Hospital just wants to be a jerk, things can be made to work. Hospitals are feeling the crunch too and many find that time to next appointment is stretching as well, so having a reasonable discussion about how best to meet the needs of the patient population without placing it all at the feet of radiology seems to be making sense to most...... But there are a few hospitals that act as though they don't care and those few will always be the most challenging.....

Hope that helps..... Let me know if you need anything else.... Happy to try to contribute....

In our hospital contract, which we signed in 2019, we have monthly average of:

1. "taken" to "signed" – excluding mammo, ED and Fast Track ED,  at 24 hours
1. Doesn't specify the location of the exam (ED, OP, IP)

Now, in our OP imaging centers, all exams are read the same day, except exams:

1. Performed after 4:30p, Monday – Thursday (which are read the following morning)
2. Performed after 4:30p, Friday (which are read Monday morning or the first business day after the weekend)