Process benchmarking in radiology.

Cost pressure is one of the main drivers for the organizational and technological changes in healthcare. The self-conception of hospital radiology in Europe will change from the image of a functional unit towards the image of a service provider for patients and referring physicians. University hospitals with their specific sourcing structure might be less affected by this development than privately owned facilities. Private practices on the other side have been in a competitive situation since years. Process optimization is necessary to transform a radiology department into a high-performance and cost-efficient organization. The examples provided above show the performance differences existing today. The intense exchange of ideas between organizations, accompanied by continuous measurement and comparison of performance parameters, can lead to the creation of a knowledge base for radiological processes. This is essential for the further development of clinical care plans, and in addition provides the industry with valuable input for future products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]