From the July 2016 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine


While the board has the responsibility for developing the strategic plan as part of the governance, the AHRA CEO and staff are accountable for the operational plan and implementation. The entire board identified three major goals. The first was a focus on imaging leaders. It’s a goal that AHRA will be a valued career asset for industry leaders. We want to grow our membership by talking about the benefits of being a member. Currently, we have maybe 5,250 members, and our goal is to reach 6,000 which will kick off during our annual meeting this year The second goal focuses on employers — health care systems, hospitals, imaging facilities. We need to provide their CEOs and COOs with the understanding that radiology administrators are the perfect fit to lead medical imaging management and even outside imaging operations.

For example, I oversee not just imaging, but the clinical laboratory. We want to demonstrate to the health care administration our experience and our education. We possess CRA certification which validates our abilities to run health care effectively. In my view there are increasing numbers of radiology administrators who are expanding their roles and taking on additional responsibilities, including the C-suite level as well. The third goal centers on industry stakeholders, private partners and policymakers. The push is that AHRA will be a valuable collaborator on regulatory and health care issues. This includes changes with CMS reimbursements and standards, the Joint Commission, NEMA XR-29, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, clinical decision support, site-neutral payments and many other regulatory issues relevant to medical imaging operations.


HCB News: What are the biggest challenges facing the association today?
EC: We regularly conduct a membership survey. The most recent one was in January. According to the feedback, the biggest challenge was regulatory changes. More specifically, health care reform, in terms of fee-for service into value-based care. There was also concern about the way we’re being reimbursed, and increasing patient satisfaction. Those topics all continue to be important challenges for health care leaders.

HCB News: Is there any big news in imaging management you’re excited about?
EC: I’m closely watching the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2016 that’s up and coming, the clinical decision support and the equalization payment (site-neutral payment). I also think the fate of health care reform, in general, is exciting. We are, of course, waiting to see what the impact of the presidential election results will be. If the Republicans win, will it be repealed? If the Democrats win, will it be expanded?

July 2016 Magazine

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