Nuance Unveils RadPort for Radiology 2.0; Order Decision Support Drives Appropriate Diagnostic Imaging Utilization

Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN), a leading supplier of speech solutions, is today announcing RadPort™ for Radiology™ 2.0, the latest version of its web-based, decision support solution for managing high–cost diagnostic imaging utilization. RadPort for Radiology is offered as a standalone application or is available for integration with most computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems to reduce potentially medically-unnecessary exams by providing ordering physicians with an appropriateness/exam utility score at the point of service. Nuance is demonstrating this technology at the Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA) annual conference in booth #6215.

Introducing new features to further simplify integrated decision support for appropriate exam ordering, RadPort for Radiology 2.0:

• Enables secure, web-based decision support that is accessible via a CPOE system or an independent web browser.
• Presents a precise clinical indications list for providers to mark patient signs and symptoms in support of their desired exam choice.
• Assigns a utility score for all ordered exams that rates appropriateness and offers recommendations for alternative procedures to consider if the initial rating has low utility.
• Alerts ordering physician if they are about to order a duplicate exam and displays the order history of the patient.
• When accepted by healthcare payors, RadPort for Radiology can satisfy pre-authorization requirements for high-cost imaging procedures without the need for approval via a radiology benefits management (RBM) service provider.
• Streamlines ordering, reimbursement and eliminates wasted time associated with pre-authorization from insurers via the phone, saving money and expediting patient care.

According to data that will be presented at RSNA as part of the Quantifying the Effect of Computerized Order Entry with Decision Support on the Growth of CT Imaging Volumes session on Tuesday, December 2 at 3:00 pm CT in room S403A, Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) use of radiology order entry decision support (RadPort for Radiology’s technology) by referring doctors at the time exams are ordered was associated with a subsequent decrease in the growth rate of outpatient CT (computed tomography) scan volume. The growth rate of outpatient CT imaging utilization from 2001 to 2007 (before, during, and after the implementation of RadPort) was monitored and indicated that the introduction of order decision support was followed by a substantial reduction in annual growth rate from 12 percent to 1 percent, despite continued steady growth in outpatient visit activity.

RadPort for Radiology’s appropriateness criteria contains more than 15,000 rules that are continuously updated in accordance with patient demographics, imaging procedures, the American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria® and input from a clinical committee at Massachusetts General Hospital and other leading clinical partners.

What’s more, RadPort for Radiology integrates with Nuance’s web-based business intelligence tool, RadCube for Radiology, which is powered by a proprietary natural language processing engine, LEXIMER. RadCube for Radiology operates as an outcomes analysis tool by automatically extracting, structuring, and classifying data from various data sources (RIS, PowerScribe for Radiology, RadWhere for Radiology, RadPort for Radiology). With RadCube for Radiology diagnostic imaging departments can quickly and easily track order appropriateness, monitor utilization patterns, analyze patient outcomes and review operational aspects of the practice for better business decisions. Example scenarios of use for RadCube for Radiology include the ability to:

• Track report turnaround time based on divisions, individual radiologists, patient class, staffing hours, or other dimensions to pinpoint areas for improvement.
• Analyze imaging volume growth based on modality, anatomy, patient demographics, location, and number of scans per patient.
• Monitor individual and group recommendation rates along with report findings and pathology to ensure quality within the department.
• Determine if the growth of imaging use has been a result of a change in the diagnostic yield and recommendations in radiology reports – by analyzing modality usage in direct comparison with the value to the patient.

As an example of the RadPort for Radiology process, if an ordering physician orders a knee CT scan and based on the entered patient information the system determines that the appropriateness for the exam has low utility, RadPort for Radiology will provide an option for alternative procedures that better suit the indications, such as a knee MRI, knee X-ray or knee bone scan. The physician can then select the recommended procedure or override the system’s recommendation, and move ahead with their originally requested exam. The system was created to support the ordering physician at the point-of-entry for a patient’s episode of care to ensure the best exam is ordered for the patient, reinforce the physician’s decision and provide comprehensive insight to relevant clinical options. The system’s utility scores and recommended alternative exams are in no way based on cost; appropriateness ratings are determined by clinical outcome data that is tracked within RadCube for Radiology to ensure the most clinically appropriate exam is ordered for the patient.

By incorporating RadPort for Radiology as a layer within CPOE systems, an interface that physicians are already accustomed to, appropriate diagnostic imaging utilization and its many benefits can be more quickly realized. RadPort for Radiology is the first step to "Closed-loop Radiology Reporting and Communication™,” a practice in which from order-to-patient outcome, radiology is treated as a single process.

"With continuous advancements in diagnostic imaging, physicians are not always aware of the appropriate use of rapidly-developing technology. Today more than $100 billion is spent annually on U.S. diagnostic imaging and a significant component of this cost is associated with unnecessary radiology exams,” said Michael Mardini, vice president, medical imaging, Nuance Healthcare. "Point-of-service high-cost image order utilization management reduces inappropriate exam ordering, speeds payor reimbursement, lowers patient radiation exposure and is shown to educate ordering clinicians to break inappropriate ordering habits.”

RadPort for Radiology and RadCube for Radiology are key components of Nuance’s radiology software solutions portfolio that focus on the way diagnostic exams are ordered, interpreted, documented, shared and analyzed. Nuance’s full radiology portfolio includes decision support for appropriate high-cost exam ordering (RadPort for Radiology), speech reporting (PowerScribe and RadWhere for Radiology), critical test result management communication tool (Veriphy) and Web-based business intelligence tool for advanced clinical data mining, outcomes analysis and information classification (RadCube for Radiology).

To see demonstrations of any of Nuance’s radiology solutions or to learn more about the CPOE integrations please visit Nuance’s booth #6215 (South Building - Hall A) at the annual RSNA show, November 30 – December 5, McCormick Place, Chicago.

Nuance’s Healthcare Business

Nuance’s Healthcare Business provides a comprehensive family of speech-driven clinical documentation and communication solutions that enable healthcare provider organizations to reduce operating costs, increase reimbursement, and enhance patient care and safety. No matter the specific requirements of a healthcare provider organization, Nuance has solutions to meet its needs. For more information, please visit http://www.nuance.com/healthcare/ .

Nuance Communications, Inc.

Nuance (NASDAQ: NUAN) is a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with information and how they create, share and use documents. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance’s proven applications and professional services. For more information, please visit www.nuance.com.

Nuance, the Nuance logo, PowerScribe, RadWhere, RadPort for Radiology, RadCube and Veriphy are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other company names or product names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

The statements in this press release, relating to future plans or future events or services, are forward-looking statements which are subject to specific risks and uncertainties. These could involve particular market trends, competition factors and other risks described in the documents submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results, events and services may vary significantly from the forecasts. The reader is warned not to rely on these forward-looking statements without reservation, since these are simply reflections of the current situation.