medical imaging is one of healthcare's fastest growing sectors so most everyone wants to get in on the action, including physicians. to illustrate imaging costs are medicares fastest growing service item in recent years they rose at three times the rate of other medical services, and the total spent on imaging servise exceeded $100 billion in 2008 one reason for this rapid increase is the ability of imaging to detect condition that previously required diagnostic surgery for detection but another reson colud be the financial incentives that make some doctors order more scans than are medically necesary.

at a recent meeting of cadiologists, neurologists, and oncologists, westwood imaging centers told doctors how they could get in on the boom. the deal works like this

DOCTORS SEND PATIENTS TO WESTWOOD FOR IMAGING SERVICE AND WESTWOOD CHARGES THE REFERRING PHYSICIAN A FLAT RATE PER SCAN.

1-WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WESTWOOD'S PARPOSAL TO PROVIDE PHYSICIANS WITH LEASED DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT?

2-IF YOU COULD ACT AS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY N THIS SITUATION, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?