How to create a cardiac CT clinic.
Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is taking an exponentially increasing role in the diagnostic algorithm of suspected coronary artery disease. It has the immediate potential of replacing stress tests as the first study a patient receives if suspected of having coronary artery disease. In the near future, it will likely precede all elective, diagnostic cardiac catheterizations secondary to its extraordinary negative predictive value. This paper discusses the 3 building blocks of a successful cardiac CT clinic, image quality, service, and marketing. It then discusses the significant differences in establishing a cardiac CT clinic depending on if the radiologist is hospital based or private office based.
Dowe
David A
DA
Atlantic Medical Imaging, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA. ddowe60@hotmail.com
D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016520:Entrepreneurship; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D011871:Radiology / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*