The Interventional Radiology Symposium

November 11-12, 2005

Day 1: The Interventional Radiology Revolution: Clinical Care in Freestanding Centers
As interventional radiology practices become more clinically oriented and have extended beyond the traditional confines of the hospital setting, practices are exploring how to establish freestanding interventional centers and new collaborative relationships. Taught by experienced interventionalists from a variety of practice settings, this session will offer practice managers and interventional radiologists alike a wealth of information regarding the planning and development, legal and financial issues of such non-traditional endeavors.

Economic Benchmarks and Clinical Standards
Michael R. Mabry
Interventional radiology has experienced dramatic changes and challenges over the last decade. The explosion of minimally invasive technology along with the institution of inpatient and outpatient clinical services has revolutionized the practice with respect to the national and local marketplace, as well as its relationship with other specialties and non-interventional radiologists. This session presents the Society of Interventional Radiology review of Economic Benchmarks and Clinical Standards in the interventional radiology practice.

Why Freestanding (outpatient) Interventional Radiology Practice?
Paramjit "Romi" Chopra, MD
The old paradigm of being a hospital based interventional radiologist, where the referring physician did all the pre- and post-procedure work for the IR are fading rapidly. The healthcare marketplace has made it essential for the interventional radiologist to develop a clinical freestanding practice to ensure their survival. This presentation provides an outline and discussion of the various issues involved in the process of establishing a thriving outpatient interventional radiology practice.

Two Interventional Centers - A Practice Case Study
Wendy A. Lomers, CPA, MBA
Hear how this practice has successfully built two outpatient interventional centers each with a different business model. Financial impacts and risk assessment will be discussed. Also covered will be radiologist staffing issues and the issues surrounding the cost of medical supplies, medical staffing, reimbursement and the actual moving and coordinating of interventional radiologists between inpatient and outpatient settings.

Consult vs Clinical: How Practice Type Affects Legal Structure
Heather Zimmerman, Esq.
This session will address key legal and regulatory issues to consider when forming or expanding an existing practice. This includes the distinction between radiology group practices, how to utilize or coordinate with an IDTF designation, the impact of the Stark Law on clinical practices and structuring physician compensation under the anti-kickback statute.

First Steps in Developing an Interventional Radiology Practice
Paramjit (Romi) Chopra, MD
Most interventional radiologists have been trained to be hospital based and have been removed from the outpatient or evaluation and management aspect of patient care. More importantly, the interventional radiologist has not received any business training or had to deal with financial risks. This presentation provides an outline of the steps an interventional radiologist must take to plan, establish and maintain a thriving interventional radiology practice.

Developing an Interventional Radiology Business Plan
Marcia Flaherty
Eight years ago, Riverside Radiology Associates developed a subsidiary, Riverside Interventional Consultants, to support and enhance the hospital-based group’s expanding interventional practice. Today, the practice includes ten interventionalists, an office-based practice with significant clinical support, and an outpatient imaging center with an interventional suite. This presentation will illustrate how the group developed Riverside Interventional Consultants and the impact of this interventional practice on the overall success of the radiology group.

E&M in Interventional Practices
Claudia A. Murray
E&M services are routinely provided in interventional radiology practices. The documentation and billing of those services, however, is often overlooked. This session will discuss the impact and significant advantages of providing and billing for E&M services, for both the office/clinic and hospital-based setting. We will also detail the employment and utilization of physician extenders in the provision of those services.

Marketing the Interventional Practice
Marcia Flaherty
This session provides a practical approach to developing a program and steps for marketing the interventional practice, by focusing on the needs of referring physicians and patients. Discussion will include the support by a marketing team that calls on referring offices. By offering education on vascular disease, stroke and other promotional campaigns a practice effort will produce a steady stream of patients for elective procedures.

Day 2: Interventional Radiology Coding
Coding for interventional procedures is a skill that requires thorough knowledge of human anatomy and familiarity with complex procedures. This is a great session for physicians who dictate procedures, managers who are responsible for accounts receivables and reimbursements, and individuals directly involved in coding.

The symposium will address these interventional radiology areas of coding.

• Arteriography
• Central venous access and AV dialysis shunt devices
• Central venous systems angiography
• Embolizations
• Gastrointestinal system procedures
• Genitourinary system procedures
• Introduction of intravascular stents
• Lymphangiography
• Miscellaneous interventional procedures
• Myelography
• Percutaneous abscess drainage or specimen collection
• Percutaneous needle biopsy procedures
• Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
• Portography
• Pulmonary arteriography
• Spinal injection procedures
• Thrombolytic therapy
• Venous Ablations
• Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty