 
|
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||||
  |
Member Login | |||||||||
| SPECT MPI HOME |
| Site Management |
| Physician Management |
| Reports |
| Data Collection Tool |
| Resources |
|
About the Pilot The American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) has partnered with United Healthcare (UHC) to pilot the appropriateness criteria for SPECT MPI in ten practice sites across the United States. This exciting partnership will test the appropriateness criteria at the point-of-service to assess the impact on ordering patterns. This project was conceived as a potential alternative to United Healthcare’s Radiology Notification Program for SPECT-MPI testing. These prior notification protocols recently implemented by United Healthcare which have the potential to create delays in physician ability to provide timely and appropriate patient care, while increasing the administrative burden on physician day-to day operations. This project will pilot a paper form and web-based tool based on ACCF Appropriateness Criteria for SPECT-MPI; targeted toward physicians who perform the service (point-of-service) in an outpatient setting. About Appropriateness Criteria The appropriateness criteria for SPECT MPI were developed by the ACCF in partnership with the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and other professional medical societies. Appropriateness criteria serve as a guide for the responsible use of health care resources by assessing the risks and benefits of particular imaging tests and procedures. Appropriateness criteria rate specific clinical scenarios and assign a score based on a scale of 1 to 9, where the upper range (7 to 9) implies that the test is generally acceptable and is a reasonable approach, and the lower range (1 to 3) implies that the test is generally not acceptable and is not a reasonable approach. The mid range (4 to 6) implies indicates a clinical scenario for which the indication for a nuclear test is uncertain. [1] The definition of appropriateness as contained in the SPECT MPI Appropriateness Criteria document (http://www.acc.org/qualityandscience/clinical/pdfs/SPECTMPIACPubFile.pdf) is: An appropriate imaging study is one in which the expected incremental information, combined with clinical judgment, exceeds the expected negative consequences* by a sufficiently wide margin for a specific indication that the procedure is generally considered acceptable care and a reasonable approach for the indication. More information on appropriateness criteria can be found on the ACC website (http://www.acc.org/), including the SPECT MPI Appropriateness Criteria document referenced above and an overview of the appropriateness criteria methodology and process (http://www.acc.org/qualityandscience/clinical/pdfs/ACMETHODSPUBFILE.pdf). Additional information regarding imaging related issues can be found at http://www.acc.org/advocacy/advoc_issues/rc_imgservicesref.htm. Data Collection and Pilot Duration Participating sites will be required to complete a data collection form (or online data collection tool) for each patient receiving a SPECT MPI test. Data collected will include basic patient demographic information, history and risk factors, past clinical history and test results The Pilot will collect patient data for six months. During the course of the Pilot, participating practices will be waived from prior authorization for all cardiac imaging procedures for UHC patients. Data collected will be submitted to ACC and entered into a web-based application that will not only store the data, but also calculate appropriateness scores. Queries will be developed to provide feedback to physician practices on appropriateness patterns. In addition to providing feedback to the participating physician sites, the pilot will also develop queries to provide reports for UHC. Goals of the Pilot
How to Participate Sites have already been selected for this phase of the Pilot. However, if you are interested in participating in future pilots of a similar nature, please contact Karen Caruth as listed below. Contact Information: For further information, please contact:
|
|||||
  | |||||
