MRI-guided fusion biopsies have transformed prostate cancer detection, offering superior accuracy compared to traditional non-targeted approaches.1 But despite the clear benefits, many urology practices hesitate to adopt this advanced technique, or outsource it to hospitals, due to perceived logistical and financial hurdles. This reluctance not only impacts patient care but also represents a significant missed opportunity for practice growth and revenue enhancement.
The Trouble with Outsourcing
Urologists who perform MRI-guided biopsies without in-office capabilities rely on hospitals and surgery centers to provide equipment and staff to perform fusion biopsies – leading to a number of problems:
Scheduling Hassles and Delays: The limited availability of hospital MRI and fusion biopsy time slots boften results in delays, frustrating patients and potentially impacting treatment outcomes.
Patient Inconvenience: Traveling to hospitals for procedures adds stress and costs for patients, which can deter them from seeking timely care.
Inefficiency: Procedures performed in hospitals and ASCs usually must be stacked on one day and can take up to an hour to turn the OR, significantly limiting the number of fusion biopsies that can be performed monthly. In addition, cancellations and OR delays can leave the physician with blocks of non-billable time.
Staffing Requirements: Specialized technicians are often required, or costly equipment and staffing are brought in from the outside through a service provider, adding complexity and cost to the process.
Lost Revenue: Without the ability to perform MRI-guided fusion biopsies in-house, biopsy procedure revenue is cut in half as providers cannot bill for the technical component of the ultrasound procedure.
Benefits of In-House MRI-Guided Fusion Biopsies
By bringing MRI-Guided Fusion Biopsies into their offices, practices can overcome these obstacles and unlock a range of benefits for both patients and their bottom lines. Benefits include:
Enhanced Patient Care and Satisfaction. Quicker access to advanced diagnostic procedures improves overall patient experience and outcomes. The MRI can be performed in the community MRI center of your choice and there’s no more patient anxiety while waiting for availability, or hassle and additional costs/copays of traveling to a different location.
Increased Revenue. Performing fusion biopsies in-house allows practices to significantly boost their income as the in-house biopsy reimbursement is typically more than double the reimbursement at a hospital or Surgery Center.
Practice efficiency. Scheduling patients is a breeze. In-house fusion biopsies can usually be completed in under 15 minutes, a stark contrast to the hour-long procedures typical in off-site settings. And if there are cancellations, the provider can simply see another patient. This efficiency allows for a significant increase in the number of fusion biopsies performed per month and frees up staff and physician time, substantially boosting practice revenue.
A Competitive Edge. Offering state-of-the-art procedures sets your practice apart in a competitive market.
A Quick Payback
Contrary to common belief, bringing MRI-guided biopsies in-house is both feasible and financially advantageous with UC-Care’s pay-per-procedure program.. With the right setup, practices can achieve a full return on their investment within the first year. This is primarily due to increased reimbursement and efficiency and the ability to perform more treatment procedures due to increased detection of high-grade disease.2
What’s more, the easy-to-use, fully automated UC-Care Navigo Fusion Navigation System can be integrated with nearly all brands of ultrasound equipment and operated by the physician alone or with a medical assistant, eliminating the need for adding specialized ultrasound technicians.
Overcoming Implementation Challenges
While the benefits of in-house MRI-guided biopsies are clear, implementing a new technology can seem daunting. Here are some strategies to ease the transition:
System Demo: Start with a system demo using a phantom to learn the simple touchscreen process flow prior to using the system on patients.
Staff Training: Invest in comprehensive training for your team; UC-Care's support is invaluable in this area and will support cases until all of your providers and staff are comfortable.
Patient and PCP Education: Inform your patients referring providers about the benefits of in-house MRI-guided biopsies, emphasizing improved accuracy and convenience. Don’t forget PCPs who are not currently referring patients to differentiate your practice and increase your overall biopsy volume.
Update Your Website: Add Prostate Fusion to your list of services, so new patients will know your offering.
Financial Planning: Work with your financial advisor to take advantage of Section 179 tax advantages and interest-free leasing offered by UC-Care.
The UC-Care Advantage
UC-Care provides comprehensive solutions that make integrating MRI-guided biopsies into your practice seamless and efficient. Our approach includes:
Cost-Effective, Full-Featured Fusion: Integrates with your ultrasound and probes and biopsy guns, and allows you to pay-as-you-go for the efficiency and better cancer detection with in-office fusion biopsies.
User-Friendly Equipment: Designed for ease of use, our systems reduce the learning curve for staff.
Comprehensive Training: UC-Care offers thorough training programs to ensure your team is confident and competent in using the new technology.
Ongoing Support: Technical assistance is readily available and included in the pay-per-procedure program, maintaining operational efficiency.
Streamlined Workflow: Our solutions integrate smoothly into existing practice workflows.
The Bottom Line: Everyone Wins
Bringing MRI-guided biopsies in-house is not just feasible; it’s a strategic move for forward-thinking urology practices. The perceived obstacles—high costs, complex implementation, staffing concerns—are largely overblown in light of modern solutions like those offered by UC-Care. The transition can be quick, smooth and rewarding, leading to improved patient outcomes, increased practice efficiency, and significant financial benefits.(3) (4)
It’s time for urology practices to embrace this advanced technology and unlock its full potential.
To learn more about integrating MRI-guided biopsies into your practice with UC-Care’s innovative solutions, visit the website at UC-Care and schedule a discovery call today. Take the first step towards transforming your practice and enhancing patient care with cutting-edge in-office, MRI-guided fusion biopsy technology.
Sources
McGrath, A.L., Price, E.R., Eby, P.R., & Rahbar, H. (2017). MRI-guided breast interventions. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 46(3), 631-645.
UC-Care. (n.d.). MRI-Guided Biopsy Solutions. Retrieved from UC-Care.
Ahmed, H.U., et al. (2017). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) targeted biopsy of the prostate—A systematic review. European Urology, 71(3), 150–161.
Soni, K.D., et al. (2019). Cost-effectiveness analysis of MRI-targeted biopsy versus standard biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis. Urology Practice, 6(5), 298–305.
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