ASNC Announces the Launch of the ImageGuide Registry

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) January 12, 2015

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) is pleased to announce the launch of the nations first cardiovascular nuclear imaging data registry; ImageGuide. ASNC has chosen FIGMD to partner in this endeavor. FIGMD is a leader in the development and implementation of clinical data registry, analytics and reporting solutions to doctors, medical professional associations and hospital systems.

The ImageGuide Registry has been designed to assist nuclear cardiology laboratories and interpreting physicians ensure and improve the quality of nuclear cardiac studies. It is the first registry that has been developed for non-invasive cardiac imaging. Goals of ImageGuide include improving laboratory efficiency, optimizing patient radiation exposure, downstream cost minimization and the improving patient care.

By participating in the ImageGuide Registry, ASNC anticipates that laboratories will be able to satisfy Medicare regulatory requirements and those of other third party payers, thereby maximizing reimbursement. Moreover, the registry will enable users to demonstrate adherence to appropriate use criteria, an increasingly important mandate of healthcare policy. The registry will help participants measure, benchmark and improve cardiovascular imaging, drive quality improvement at the provider and laboratory level and assist in the dissemination of best practices.

The development and implementation by the ASNC of the ImageGuide Registry for myocardial perfusion imaging is truly ground breaking, said Peter L. Tilkemeier, MD, Chair of the Registry Oversight Committee. ImageGuide comprehensively addresses the entire imaging process from indications and appropriateness, type of study performed and radiation dosimetry, reporting results and compliance with major quality indicators. Release of the registry for clinical use is a sentinel moment in the history of non-invasive cardiac imaging and has been successful only through the collective efforts of many involved in the field of cardiac imaging and registries.

The data that the registry collects are fully compliant with existing standards and the mechanisms for data collection have been simplified to allow widespread participation and submission of data. This comprehensive approach will allow those participating and the field to best assess where the field is today and guide the field moving into the future. It has also been developed in a way to allow participation by other imaging modalities with minimal development.

Software development of the ImageGuide Registry, and coordination of efforts with automated myocardial perfusion SPECT automated reporting software vendors, have proceeded smoothly and rapidly, and the registry is now enrolling selected test sites for purposes of validation, said ASNC president, Gordon DePuey, MD. I strongly encourage physicians to participate in the ImageGuide Registry to reinforce their partnership with ASNC by reiterating and underscoring the quality and value of Nuclear Cardiology. I am very enthusiastic and proud to announce the launch of ASNCs ImageGuide Registry.

About ASNC The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology is the leader in education, advocacy and quality in cardiovascular imaging, with nearly 5,000 members worldwide. ASNC provides its members with a variety of continuing education programs related to nuclear cardiology and cardiovascular computed tomography (CT), promotes accreditation and certification in nuclear cardiology, establishes standards and guidelines for training and practice and serves as a representative in health policy and the principal advocacy voice for professionals in the field. For more information about ASNC go to http://www.asnc.org.

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ASNC Announces the Launch of the ImageGuide Registry