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Imaging Center Performance

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Almost since the inception of the Imaging Center Performance Survey in 2002, RBMA envisioned the development of key indicators of imaging center performance to supplement the eight key indicators of accounts receivable management performance. In 2009, using the results from four Imaging Center Performance Surveys and a mini-Survey that collected information about what measures RBMA members use to assess the performance of their imaging centers, the RBMA Data Collection and Reporting Committee selected eight key indicators of imaging center performance. Four of the indicators are used to evaluate procedure productivity and four are used to evaluate expense management performance.

Procedure Productivity

These statistics are measures of throughput and are reported overall and by modality for CT, MR, PET and PET-CT, general radiology, DEXA, ultrasound, digital and analog mammography, nuclear medicine, and interventional/pain management.

1. Number of CPT^® Codes Billed per Imaging Machine
Formula: (Number of CPT Codes Billed / Number of Imaging Machines)
Definitions:

Number of CPT Codes Billed: The number of codes billed during the fiscal year. Both surgical and S&I codes are included for interventional/pain management services. Counts for codes related to contrast media, radiopharmaceuticals, computer evaluation of images, and other similar codes used for supplies and technical services that are tangential to providing the ordered service are not included.
Number of Imaging Machines: The number of machines in use at this location.

2. Total RVUs per Imaging Machine
Formula: (Total RVUs / Number of Imaging Machines)
Definitions:

Total RVUs: The total number of RVUs corresponding to the number of CPT codes billed during the fiscal year.
Number of Imaging Machines: The number of machines in use at this location.

3. Number of CPT^® Codes Billed per FTE Tech
Formula: (Number of CPT Codes Billed / Number of FTE Technologists)
Definitions:

Number of CPT Codes Billed: The number of codes billed during the fiscal year. Both surgical and S&I codes are included for interventional/pain management services. Counts for codes related to contrast media, radiopharmaceuticals, computer evaluation of images, and other similar codes used for supplies and technical services that are tangential to providing the ordered service are not included.
Number of FTE Technologists: The number of full-time equivalent technologists, nurses, and technologist aides who work in the imaging center on patient throughput or the acquisition of imaging studies. Hours spent performing administrative or other non-clinical functions should be excluded from the FTE Tech calculation. To calculate this number, add the FTE of part-time techs (part-time hours worked weekly divided by 40) to the number of full-time techs.

4. Total RVUs per FTE Tech
Formula: (Total RVUs / Number of FTE Technologists)
Definitions:

Total RVUs: The total number of RVUs corresponding to the number of CPT codes billed during the fiscal year.
Number of FTE Technologists: The number of full-time equivalent technologists, nurses, and technologist aides who work in the imaging center on patient throughput or the acquisition of imaging studies. Hours spent performing administrative or other non-clinical functions should be excluded from the FTE Tech calculation. To calculate this number, add the FTE of part-time techs (part-time hours worked weekly divided by 40) to the number of full-time techs.

Expense Management Performance

5. Imaging Center Operating Expense as a Percentage of Total Imaging Center Expense
Formula: (Imaging Center Operating Expense / Total Imaging Center Expense) X 100
Definitions:

Imaging Center Operating Expense: The total of non-physician salaries expense (excluding salaries expense for marketing staff); non-physician benefits expense (excluding benefits expense for marketing staff); occupancy expense; medical imaging equipment expense; RIS/PACS expense; medical supplies expense; office furniture, fixtures and equipment expense; and office supplies expense.
Total Imaging Center Expense: The total of imaging center operating expense, imaging center marketing expense and general, administrative and miscellaneous expense.

6. Imaging Center Operating Expense per CPT^® Code Billed
Formula: (Imaging Center Operating Expense / Number of CPT Codes Billed)
Definitions:

Imaging Center Operating Expense: The total of non-physician salaries expense (excluding salaries expense for marketing staff); non-physician benefits expense (excluding benefits expense for marketing staff); occupancy expense; medical imaging equipment expense; RIS/PACS expense; medical supplies expense; office furniture, fixtures and equipment expense; and office supplies expense.
Number of CPT Codes Billed: The number of codes billed during the fiscal year. Both surgical and S&I codes are included for interventional/pain management services. Counts for codes related to contrast media, radiopharmaceuticals, computer evaluation of images, and other similar codes used for supplies and technical services that are tangential to providing the ordered service are not included.

7. Imaging Center Operating Expense per Total RVU
Formula: (Imaging Center Operating Expense / Total RVUs)
Definitions:

Imaging Center Operating Expense: The total of non-physician salaries expense (excluding salaries expense for marketing staff); non-physician benefits expense (excluding benefits expense for marketing staff); occupancy expense; medical imaging equipment expense; RIS/PACS expense; medical supplies expense; office furniture, fixtures and equipment expense; and office supplies expense.
Total RVUs: The total number of RVUs corresponding to the number of CPT codes billed during the fiscal year.

8. Imaging Center Marketing Expense as a Percentage of Imaging Center Revenue
Formula: (Imaging Center Marketing Expense / Imaging Center Revenue) X 100
Definitions:

Imaging Center Marketing Expense: Amounts spent by the imaging center to promote, brand and encourage or retain referral sources in addition to any salaries and benefits expense for those individuals in the imaging center who work on these efforts. If a portion of an FTE is dedicated to marketing efforts then the applicable percentage of salaries and benefits expense should be included in the imaging center marketing expense.
Imaging Center Revenue: Monies earned and/or received by the imaging center, whether recognized in the accounting records on a cash or accrual basis, for the provision of imaging or interventional services provided by the imaging center. If revenue is recognized on an accrual basis then the imaging center revenue should be calculated as net of adjustments and write-offs. Other income sources such as interest should be excluded.