Abstract
In the current health care environment, outpatient diagnostic imaging centers face intense competition for the declining health care dollar. One approach to providing health care services at low cost is to provide as many services as possible in the outpatient environment. Quality control and patient satisfaction are issues of major importance. The “vertical integration” model is becoming more prevalent, and the author contends that cooperative networking among outpatient centers may be a key to successful survival. The role of the sonographer in the changing health care environment is described. The increasing importance of accreditation and the emergence of a growing number of accrediting bodies, as well as the potential impact of the new ultrasound contrast agents, are discussed.