Value-Based Radiology in Cardiovascular Imaging

In this chapter six case scenarios are presented encompassing many common questions and issues that we may frequently face in the field of cardiovascular imaging and where the radiologists will bring added value through their expertise input. Scenarios like those where one can clearly improve patient outcomes are detailed, like the management of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter through a software that helps to track patients or through the implementation of specific macros for CT reading highlighting key points in IVC filter description. The added value for patient outcomes regarding coronary CTA is also highlighted, namely the help in early discharge from emergency department (ED) in the setting of chest pain of doubtful coronary origin. Also, scenarios where the radiologist can also add value, but mainly through helping to reduce redundancy or unnecessary imaging, that is in the end reducing the final healthcare costs are detailed, like the case for stress imaging in preoperative setting or venous thromboembolism, namely in the optimization of the diagnostic workup involving imaging tests.