Twenty-two years of radiology “best practice” data — applied to your service line.
Since our founding in 2001 we have sought to identify and deliver best practices within radiology. From beginnings in the NY Tristate region, our practice has expanded to successful projects in 48 states and abroad.
We remain focused on four key objectives — and on the reporting that proves progress against them.
What we do
If this is one of your clients, this is why they picked RESG.
Three proprietary databases
RadMark™ scoring, T-Max™ theoretical maximum referrals, and RadMark-Equipment™ asset & service planning.
Case studies & references
Documented revenue growth, cost reduction and quality gains — plus letters from the executives who signed off.
Training programs
Quarterly staff development, leadership training and modality-specific programs, included in every annual support engagement.
History & Overview
Since our founding in 2001 we have always sought to identify and deliver “best practices” within radiology. We have always remained focused on developing meaningful reporting and delivering on four key objectives: optimization of workflow, optimization of quality and best-practice adoption, cost containment, and new revenue generation.
From humble beginnings in the NY Tristate region our practice has expanded to include successful projects completed in forty-eight (48) states and abroad. Over the past twenty-two years we have continually collected data on radiology performance benchmarks and key processes within hospital and outpatient service. RESG has developed objective methods to determine both quality and financial success.
Three proprietary databases
T-Max™ — Theoretical Maximum Referrals, by specialty
We have estimated typical monthly and annual radiology referral patterns by physician specialty and by modality. We apply this data to size a market, determine existing market share, test the viability of new imaging centers or services, and quantify the “leakage” a hospital or private practice is losing to competition.
RadMark™ — Radiology report card system
Sixty key performance indicators influence the performance of a hospital radiology service line or an outpatient imaging center. Our objective report card scores each area against best practice, with detail on how scores can be improved and the financial impact of that improvement.
RadMark-Equipment™ — Asset planning & service management
Our newest database captures features and benefits of capital equipment and seeks to optimize asset use against capability. We maintain data by manufacturer on equipment performance and parts availability, and help hospitals customize agreements with OEMs and third parties to assure uptime and lower annual cost. Frequently we negotiate better radiology-specific terms than those offered by the larger GPOs.
Who we serve
Our clients include:
Every hospital can benefit from a qualified, vendor-neutral assessment of their radiology service line. RESG combines expert analysis of data with a comprehensive on-site audit. Our specialists are experts in radiology workflow, revenue cycle and compliance — most have run radiology departments themselves.
The RESG process includes 3–5 days of on-site observation and evaluation by a qualified professional. We observe all process functions and interview key stakeholders in each area and modality. We also deploy “secret shopper” programs to verify scheduling efficiency, survey physicians in the community, and define the department’s positioning versus regional competition.
We define the strengths and weaknesses of a service line and present actionable options to improve workflow, quality and profitability — examining each modality in respect to its referral base and growth opportunity. Our experience and databases draw on hands-on work at over 490 hospitals across 48 states, plus outpatient imaging center chains and multi-specialty physician groups.
RadMark™, T-Max™ and RadMark-Equipment™
Three proprietary databases, built and maintained by RESG, that turn radiology performance into comparable numbers.
The radiology report card
RadMark™ is a proprietary method developed by RESG to optimize the profitability and quality of a hospital’s radiology service line. Developed and trademarked in 2012, it provides objective scoring of sixty key performance indicators integral to radiology service delivery, inpatient and outpatient.
RadMark™ can also train radiology administrators or other qualified personnel to self-administer report card surveys and data requirements, and report them to RESG for scoring and feedback.
The 60 KPI report card — key result areas
Each scored 1%–100% against best practiceT-Max™ — Theoretical Maximum Referrals
We have estimated typical monthly and annual radiology referral patterns by physician specialty and by modality. Applied to a defined geography, T-Max™ answers four questions with numbers instead of assumptions.
RadMark-Equipment™
Asset planning and service/maintenance management. Our newest database includes features and benefits of capital equipment and seeks to optimize asset use against capability — with performance and parts-availability data maintained by manufacturer.
We help hospitals customize agreements with OEMs and third parties to assure uptime and lower annual cost. Regional service strategies typically reduce overall service expense by 15–20% while improving uptime. Frequently we negotiate better radiology-specific terms than the larger GPOs (e.g. Vizient, Premier, HPG, GNYHA).
What the program optimizes
Long-term capital equipment management balances these resources against actual capability and use.
Service Line Positioning, Marketing, Sales & Business Development
In addition to developing and implementing comprehensive marketing plans, we help radiology service lines understand their unique strengths and position themselves optimally against both not-for-profit and for-profit providers.
Through our T-Max™ physician profiling and market analysis methods we accurately determine existing and potential outpatient radiology referral volumes for a given geography. This modality- and specialty-specific method lets a hospital evaluate referral leakage and implement programs to maximize appropriate referrals.
RESG has proven programs to profile all potential referral sources and quantify their clinical needs and revenue impact. Our methods for physician engagement are cutting edge and compliant with all applicable regulations. We can supervise and manage accountability for existing sales personnel, or provide dedicated personnel under the RESG/Ventra payroll.
RESG maintains a database of marketing, educational, promotional and advertising materials specific to each radiology modality and clinical application, with resources to optimize website, social media and other rich media promotion.
An annual radiology support program provides access to a broad spectrum of radiology support and optimization services. Programs start with a comprehensive audit and opportunity analysis; our team then works with your resources to prioritize initiatives by impact and timing.
For most annual engagements RESG acts as agent on behalf of the hospital or regional IDN. Our support and training programs help radiology directors better understand the P&L of their service line and identify cost savings.
We also identify and assist in implementing long-term capital equipment management programs that optimize the use of OEM, third-party, biomedical, physics and insurance products.
Leadership help desk & research division
For long-term clients, RESG maintains a help desk and research division that can query issues across:
Project capabilities
Professional Advocacy, Alignment Programs & RFP Management
Since the Covid-19 pandemic a multitude of issues have impacted the economics of providing professional radiology services and the available bandwidth within the marketplace. RESG has assisted health systems, radiology practices and entrepreneurial providers in developing mutually acceptable contract terms and alignment strategies.
We have assisted radiology practices in securing fair-market-value compensation that recognizes the realities of today’s market, and hospital clients in negotiating performance-based compensation and alignment models.
Factors We Recognize
Successful Engagements
500+ engagements across 48 states — academic medical centers, national systems, community hospitals, imaging center chains and radiology practices.
Client and engagement marks. Additional references available on request.
Reference Letters
A sample agent letter from a hospital system client. Client executives and radiology leadership are available to speak with you directly on request.
Trusted Contractor & Negotiator
Many hospitals have engaged RESG to support the day-to-day operations, profitability and long-term growth of their radiology service lines, and have authorized the firm to act as their agent across capital equipment and asset planning, equipment service agreements, radiology consumables, radiology IT and RIS/PACS contracting, physics and dosimetry support, licensing and compliance, revenue cycle optimization, and payor agreement negotiation.
Recommendations, purchase agreements and contract proposals negotiated by RESG remained subject to approval by health system leadership — the arrangement we use with most annual engagement clients.
Client executives and radiology leadership are available to speak directly about their engagements. We provide contacts relevant to your setting and service line on request.
Case Studies
Seven engagements, from critical access hospitals to multi-hospital IDNs, with the results each one produced.
Training & Continuing Education
We know how to leverage industry and specialized resources to educate both administrative and technical personnel. Our annual support programs include quarterly training, and we are often asked to provide customized training support to our clients.
How training is delivered
Historically successful programs
Delivered in-house, and with engaged third parties including LEAN/Six Sigma, Dale Carnegie, Disney, Centers for Creative Leadership, Franklin Covey/4DX, Nordstrom, Sales Force and Kaizen.
Our Team
A dozen industry experts and thought leaders from across radiology and radiology management.
David M. Longton
The Radiology Essential Solutions Group was founded in New Jersey by David Longton in 2001. He has leveraged a 40-year career that includes experience as a senior MRI training specialist and executive leadership at two national imaging center chains. Since then the company has grown to include over a dozen industry experts and has completed over 500 successful project engagements across forty-eight states and abroad.
David has been passionate about the adoption of best practices and the optimization of all aspects of radiology service delivery. In 2012 he developed and trademarked the RadMark™ Radiology Report Card System, providing objective scoring of sixty key performance indicators integral to radiology service delivery, inpatient and outpatient. The tool has helped numerous RESG clients measure performance, improve quality and increase annual profitability.
Practice disciplines
RESG assembles the right specialists for each engagement, and leverages industry resources to educate both administrative and technical personnel.
Comments & Questions
Tell us about your service line. Submissions route directly to David Longton at davidl@resg1.com.
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Solutions Group
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
