Radiology administrators continue to show growing confidence in their business prospects, according to the latest data from the Medical Imaging Confidence Index (MICI).
All five of the MICI categories have shown a positive growth trend over the past two years, indicating improving sentiment on the part of radiology administrators. What's more, the MICI composite score -- a basket of all five categories -- has also risen over the past eight quarters.
MICI is a forward-looking index designed to provide an early view of trends as they develop. It is derived from the responses of imaging directors and hospital managers who are members of the AHRA medical imaging management association. Members of the MICI panel are asked about five key trends typically encountered by radiology administrators and what they expect in these areas in the upcoming quarter. The MICI survey is produced by AHRA and market research firm the MarkeTech Group.
For the fourth-quarter data, MICI surveyed 148 participants from across the U.S., with 11% based in the Pacific region, 8% in the Mountain region, 10% in the West North Central region, 22% in the East North Central region, 15% in the Mid-Atlantic region, 13% in the South Atlantic region, 7% in the East South Central region, and 15% in the West South Central region.
Participants were asked to rate their optimism about the five topics, and a single composite score including all five categories was also tabulated. Scores ranged from 0 to 200 and can be interpreted as follows:
- < 50 = extremely low confidence
- 50 to 69 = very low confidence
- 70 to 89 = low confidence
- 90 to 110 = an ambivalent score (neutral)
- 111 to 130 = high confidence
- 131 to 150 = very high confidence
- > 150 = extremely high confidence
MICI scores for the fourth quarter of 2015 and their relationship to the eight previous quarters are shown in the following chart and table.
| MICI scores by topic for Q4 2015 | ||
| Topic | Mean score | Interpretation |
| Internal operating and staff costs will remain constant | 133 | Very high confidence |
| Will maintain/grow as a profit center | 125 | High confidence |
| Will grow monthly in diagnostic and interventional radiology | 118 | High confidence |
| Composite score across all areas | 110 | Neutral |
| Will have access to capital for imaging equipment and IT needs | 101 | Neutral |
| Will receive adequate reimbursement from Medicare for diagnostic and interventional imaging | 77 | Low confidence |
Radiology administrators continue to demonstrate confidence that their internal operating and staff costs will remain constant, with a score of 133. They also expressed high confidence that their facility will grow as a profit center (score of 125), and that their diagnostic and interventional services will grow (score of 118).
At the other end of the scale is administrator confidence in receiving adequate reimbursement from Medicare (score of 77). Radiology administrators were neutral on their ability to have access to capital for imaging equipment and IT needs (score of 101).
