Optimal Radiology, a leading provider of comprehensive radiology solutions to hospitals, has joined with Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (ADI), a premier provider of radiology and other specialty medical services to Middle Tennessee and the surrounding area,  to form Optimal Radiology Partners (ORP), the nation's first integrated national radiology practice.

Comprised of more than 100 radiologists who interpret over 2 million exams annually, the new organization will provide technology-driven staffing and management solutions to national and regional health systems, as well as independent radiology groups.

With a practice that includes 36 subspecialized radiologists and the region's largest network of outpatient imaging centres, Nashville-based ADI is an established leader in the use of technology to enhance quality and operational efficiency. The partnership will leverage ADI's industry-leading technology platform and Optimal's national network and established clinical and administrative processes to help its hospital and physician partners enhance quality, reduce turnaround times and increase access to subspecialty coverage.

"With the pending changes in healthcare legislation around quality and cost, we believe hospitals and health systems will move toward contracting with partners who follow established performance expectations," said Jonathan Grimes, chief executive officer of Optimal Radiology. "Over the past decade, ADI has been a pioneer in the use of technology to improve quality and efficiency of care and has proven their ability to perform at the new standard of service for radiology."

In addition to providing on-site physician coverage, management and business development support, and 24/7 access to the one of the nation's largest network of subspecialized radiologists, ORP now has the ability to scale its robust IT infrastructure across all partner sites.

The technology platform and workflow design have been crafted by practicing radiologists and include web-based RIS and PACS designed to streamline workflow. A single, common worklist allows multiple radiologists to interpret studies regardless of location, thereby maximizing the use of radiology subspecialists to improve accuracy and increase the speed with which both attending physicians and patients receive results. Advanced voice recognition capabilities embedded in the technology also ensure consistency of reports and produce significant savings by eliminating the time and expense associated with transcription.

Optimal Radiology Partners will continue to draw upon industry best practices, following standardized protocols for imaging studies, critical value reporting and peer review as recommended by The Advisory Board's Imaging Performance Partnership, of which ADI is a member. The group will also use a Radiologist Performance Dashboard to measure their efforts in six key areas necessary for hospitals to maintain high quality standards and achieve Joint Commission compliance.

"We know from experience that the health of any radiology department or practice is directly tied to the quality of its outcomes, the satisfaction of its patients and referring physicians, and the overall efficiency of its operations," said Chad Calendine, president of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. "We've always prided ourselves on being a progressive physician group and partnering with an established leader like Optimal allows us to leverage our technology platform and subspecialty expertise nationally. We're excited about the opportunity to help impact each of these areas on a broader level."

In addition to making the ORP technology platform available to Optimal's existing hospital clients, the joint venture will serve large national and regional health systems, and plans to partner with independent radiology groups that may benefit from additional subspecialty expertise and broader technological capabilities.

Optimal Radiology Partners will operate out of Optimal Radiology's headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.