Pueblo Radiology gets a clearer view of what it's owed
In a sponsored feature in Radiology Business, Jessica Kania looks at how Pueblo Radiology, an independent practice in Santa Barbara, California, moved its billing to Collaborative Imaging, now CIVIE, to make sure it was being paid for all the work it did.
Growing, but unsure about collections
Founded in 1957, Pueblo Radiology employs 25 fellowship-trained physicians. It runs an outpatient imaging center in Santa Barbara and serves six California hospitals plus three other outpatient facilities. Medical director Jacob Harter, MD, describes a diverse practice with an active interventional radiology service.
As the group added work, one question nagged. “We’re always concerned about being sure we’re collecting for all of the studies we’re reading and performing,” Harter says. “We weren’t sure that was the case.”
Doing the homework
A trusted colleague pointed the group to Collaborative Imaging. Pueblo’s radiologists called existing clients, and the feedback was consistent. “They all said their collections went up, or their expenses went down, or a combination of the two,” Harter says.
The Collaborative Imaging team walked staff through a full billing transition plan. Despite moving systems and retraining staff, Harter says “it went pretty smoothly, to be honest.” Pueblo went live with all billing through Collaborative Imaging in August 2021.
Results after a year
Harter reports improvements in billing performance, turnaround time and reporting, plus clearer information overall. Collections per RVU, which he considers one of the most reliable billing metrics, have increased. The practice now reconciles incoming cash weekly instead of monthly, which gives it a faster read on collection activity.
Next: PACS, RIS and administration
Billing came first, but Harter says the group’s existing PACS and RIS, from a single vendor, “did not work well and never did.” Pueblo has begun moving IT services and several administrative roles to Collaborative Imaging. Throughout, the practice keeps its ownership. “We keep ownership, and it’s still the doctors’ practice,” he says.
The same priorities, collections visibility first and a connected PACS and RIS next, shape CIVIE revenue cycle management today.
Source: “Pueblo Radiology was struggling to collect the bills that were due, until they did this.,” Jessica Kania, Radiology Business, August 17, 2022.
