A Model to Improve the Workflow for Radiation Treatments in the Era of Bundled Payments: A Quality Improvement Project Report

Toms Vengaloor Thomas, MD; Margie Jeanann Suggs, MD, PhD; Ashley N. Jones, RT (CT); Jeremy P. Otts, RT (T); George Russell, MD; Srinivasan Vijayakumar, MD; Robert Allbright, MD

Advances in Radiation Oncology (May 2020)

A Model to Improve the Workflow for Radiation Treatments in the Era of Bundled Payments: A Quality Improvement Project Report

Toms Vengaloor Thomas, MD,
Margie Jeanann Suggs, MD, PhD,
Ashley N. Jones, RT (CT),
Jeremy P. Otts, RT (T),
George Russell, MD,
Srinivasan Vijayakumar, MD,
Robert Allbright, MD

Affiliations

Toms Vengaloor Thomas, MD: Corresponding author: Toms Vengaloor Thomas, MD; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Margie Jeanann Suggs, MD, PhD: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Ashley N. Jones, RT (CT): Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Jeremy P. Otts, RT (T): Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
George Russell, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Srinivasan Vijayakumar, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
Robert Allbright, MD: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5, no. 3
pp. 490 – 494

Abstract

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed alternate payment models to improve the efficiency and decrease the redundancy of health care. Bundled payments or episode-based care is one example. Herein, we report on the successful implementation of a quality improvement project in which changing the clinical workflow for postoperative radiation treatment to the hip to prevent heterotopic ossification improved the efficiency of patient care and decreased cost by eliminating redundant imaging through multidisciplinary participation. This project is a model for interdisciplinary collaboration to improve patient care and reduce unnecessary health care spending in the era of bundled payment/episodes of care program implementation.

Published in Advances in Radiation Oncology

ISSN: 2452-1094 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/advances-in-radiation-oncology/

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