A recent study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), led by David A. Rosman, MD, MBA, deputy chief of radiology enterprise service at Mass General Brigham, highlights the significant financial and patient care benefits of shifting imaging services from hospital settings to outpatient centers like Bergen Imaging Center.
The U.S. healthcare system spends approximately $3.5 trillion annually, with nearly three-quarters of these costs tied to hospital-based care. According to the study, shifting just 10% of hospital-based care to outpatient settings could save an estimated $125 billion per year.
The Cost-Saving Potential of Outpatient Imaging
In an interview with Radiology Business, Dr. Rosman discusses how outpatient imaging presents a major opportunity for reducing healthcare costs. Studies indicate that up to 25% of hospital-based radiology services could be moved to outpatient centers, leading to substantial savings for both the healthcare system and patients.
One example of this shift is Mass General Brigham, where 83% of imaging procedures are now conducted outside of hospitals—well above the 42% benchmark outlined in the study. According to Dr. Rosman, this suggests that the financial advantages of transitioning radiology services to outpatient settings may be even greater than initially projected.
Challenges in the Transition to Independent Imaging Centers
While moving imaging services to outpatient centers provides major financial and patient care benefits, there are challenges to consider. In Radiology Business’s interview with Dr. Rosman, several key factors are addressed:
- Medicare’s Role – Changes in value-based billing and site neutrality are expected to encourage more imaging services to transition out of hospital settings.
- Hospital Revenue Concerns – Some hospital systems have hesitated to relocate imaging services due to concerns about financial losses.
- A Collaborative Approach – Dr. Rosman said that hospitals should not view outpatient centers as competition. Instead, they can invest in and operate outpatient imaging facilities, creating an integrated, patient-centered network that delivers imaging services more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Better Access and Lower Costs for Patients
By shifting imaging out of hospitals, patients receive more accessible and cost-effective care, while hospitals can better allocate their resources to urgent and complex medical cases. In addition to reducing costs, transitioning imaging services out of hospitals offers several patient care benefits, including:
- Optimized hospital resources – Moving imaging services to outpatient centers allows hospitals to prioritize inpatient and critical care cases.
- Lower costs for patients – Imaging at outpatient centers is significantly more affordable than hospital-based imaging.
- Greater convenience – Outpatient imaging centers, like Bergen Imaging Center, offer faster scheduling, shorter wait times, and a more comfortable environment for non-urgent procedures.
Bergen Imaging Center: Your Trusted Non-Hospital Affiliated, Outpatient Imaging Center
As a freestanding, non-hospital-affiliated imaging center, Bergen Imaging Center is uniquely positioned to provide high-quality, cost-effective imaging services in a patient-focused environment.
Our team is dedicated to ensuring that patients receive top-tier diagnostic imaging using advanced technology in a comfortable setting. As more healthcare providers recognize the benefits of outpatient imaging, this shift will continue to grow—creating a more affordable, accessible, and patient-friendly healthcare system.