I recently spent an interesting few days at a symposium on developing diagnostic imaging centers (DICs), which was produced by The Radiology Consulting Group out of Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Among the many topics of interest to those contemplating a joint venture to build a DIC, or those in the midst of running one already, were the repeated discussions of research, planning, and smart implementation.
I was quite impressed that folks at the top of the healthcare food chain placed such a strong emphasis on the fundamentals-something that comes as no surprise and involves more than a share of common sense. Presenter after presenter noted the critical difference that can be made between the success and failure of a DIC project. The overall theme, hands-on business management at each stage of development, is something that can be applied to any of our daily tasks.
Quite often, the most interesting or intellectually challenging aspects of a particular project receive the majority of our attention, and we tend to gloss over the dependence on the daily basics that are so critical to a successful outcome.
In the case of launching a DIC, the best up-front planning will yield a smoother evolution downstream, including strong attention to the details of the legal structure, especially in the case of a joint venture. Additionally, the most minute details of the modality selection, the architectural planning, the marketing, and the staffing need to be addressed in the business plan, which should be backed by the assumptions supporting the financial projections, again in detail.
We will be featuring these topics as part of our continuing quest to keep you informed about the issues and trends in the industry that affect each of you. In this way, our editorial will provide more detail on the fundamental success factors that contribute to the growth and development of our fascinating industry. One aspect of this coverage will be the breadth of topics related to the development of DICs, a topic that clearly will be center stage for many years to come.
