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Biomedical subjects

R G Evens

Publications and source records attributed to R G Evens.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Economic and utilization analysis of MR imaging units in the United States in 1987.

The 72 most experienced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging installations were surveyed for operational and economic data from January or February 1987. The typical MR imaging installation was operating 69 hours and examining 58 patients per week, with 82% of the studies being neuroradiologic. The mean fees were $545-$603 for the technical component and $111-$232 for the professional component, with a higher charge for body procedures. The mean annual gross revenues were $1,193,000, and revenues after deductions totaled $1,014,000. Estimated expenses for a typical MR imaging installation were $968,000, with a net annual revenue of $46,000 or more. Compared with 1985 data from the same study group, weekly patient volume and hours of operation have increased--from 35 to 58 patients and from 54 to 69 hours. Installations are more efficient, as the number of patients examined per hour has increased from 0.6 to 0.8. Demand for MR imaging is growing, as the outpatient scheduling delay has increased from 5.3 to 11.4 days. The financial position of MR imaging units has markedly improved from a previous loss of $460,000 to an estimated current gain of +46,000 or more annually. MR imaging installations have shown improvement by several objective criteria - patient throughput, operational efficiency, and financial net revenues.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1988

The self-referred mammography patient: a new responsibility for radiologists.

A mammography screening program was initiated in which self-referred women were accepted for examination. Two views of each breast were obtained, and no physical examination was performed. Reports were sent to each patient and to the patient's primary care physician, if she had one. The program was successful in that the number of examinations performed per day increased from 36 to 80 within 6 months. Approximately 50% of the women who came for screening did so at their own request. Self-referred women with abnormal findings on mammograms who did not have a primary care physician were contacted by phone and told of the results. Advice was given for further evaluation, and the patient was referred to a local physician if she still did not know of one. Further workup in patients with abnormal findings was verified with the use of computer tracking and follow-up phone calls. Self-referral is an important component of screening mammography, but it places added responsibility on the radiologist in cases in which there is no referring physician.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1987

Differentiation of proximal bronchogenic carcinoma from postobstructive lobar collapse by magnetic resonance imaging. Comparison with computed tomography.

MRI and CT studies in 18 patients with proximal bronchogenic carcinoma and postobstructive lobar collapse were analyzed retrospectively. The relative abilities of these imaging techniques to identify central tumor by a contour abnormality and to distinguish tumor mass from collapsed lung by CT attenuation values and MRI signal intensities were compared. MRI and CT were equivalent in their ability to identify a contour abnormality, both succeeding in 13 of 18 (72%) patients. CT was more successful than MRI in differentiating tumor mass from collapsed lung. Dynamic computed tomography scanning differentiated tumor from collapsed lung in eight of ten (80%) patients. MRI demonstrated different signal intensities of tumor and collapsed lung in 8 of 18 (44%) patients. T2-weighted images more often separated tumor from collapsed lung than other imaging sequences.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

The radiologist as an attending physician: routine or special procedure?

The role of the interventional radiologist as an attending physician is discussed, and the disadvantages considered. It is the author's opinion that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, and that a system in which interventional radiologists function as attending physicians will have limited applicability in most practices.

Humans↗
PubMed1985

National CT use and radiation exposure: United States 1983.

Data from two sources provide an estimate that in 1983, 5-5.5 million computed tomographic (CT) procedures were performed in the U.S. Of those, 63% were head scans, 27% body, and 10% spine. Ten percent or fewer were high-resolution studies, primarily spine CT. The surface dose varies widely but ranges between 1 and 7 rad (10-70 mGy) for most examinations. It is estimated that CT scanning contributes 7%-8% of the adult active bone marrow dose that is received from diagnostic radiology.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Economic and utilization analysis of magnetic resonance imaging units in the United States in 1985.

Of the 72 clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) installations operating in the United States in 1985, operations data were obtained from 47. The average annual technical operating cost of each unit is estimated at $841,500 when performing 2000 clinical procedures. Most costs are fixed and the annual cost varies slightly, between $800,000 and $882,000, with procedure volumes of 1000-3000 annually. The "typical" clinical MRI unit currently is examining 1500 patients and billing 1260 patients annually with a mean technical charge of $500. Of the procedures, 77% are neuroradiologic (head and spine). Radiologists are responsible for 93% of MRI procedures. The partial-pay/bad-debt revenue deduction is high (40%). With annual technical costs of about $820,000 and net technical revenues of $378,000, the typical unit is operating at an annual economic loss of about $440,000. An economic break-even point would be met with a charge of $1100 at the current procedure volume or a volume of 2700 procedures/year at the current charge. MRI units in outpatient locations study more patients, perform considerably more spinal examinations, and have higher charges. Compared with computed tomography at a comparable stage of development, MRI has less clinical demand, more outpatient locations, three to five times higher costs, and two-and-one-half times higher charges. To achieve economic viability with a technical charge of $500 or less, increased patient volume and third-party payer acceptance to reduce the partial-pay/bad-debt revenue factor will be required.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗