BOSTON – The Beth Israel Deaconess Physician Organization’s implementation of a clinical decision support system at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for diagnostic imaging services has delivered ROI to providers, payer and patients.

Since 2006, BIDMC has continued to outperform the statewide trend of rising rates for high-tech radiology use, according to Richard Parker, MD, the organization’s medical director.

SafeMed’s CDS system enables physicians to make real-time intelligent decisions regarding the appropriateness of tests, ranked by safety and relative cost. The system aggregates administrative and clinical requirements by BIDPO, BIDMC and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, evidence-based medical guidelines and data derived from the specific patient’s medical record.

The CDS system is configured to enable electronic pre-certification for BCBSMA members, which streamlines the notification process and thereby reduces time and resources associated with the traditional paper and telephone pre-certification process.

BCBSMA sponsored a pilot of the system through funding of the implementation and software license fees and the designation of a project manager to oversee the pilot, said Greg LeGrow, BCBSMA’s director of eHealth innovation.