Hospital-owned and operated outpatient imaging centers: strategies for success.

Dedicated outpatient imaging centers offer hospitals an opportunity to meet stakeholder expectations, maximize market share, and increase revenue. However, because outpatient imaging centers operate according to different business strategies and principles compared with hospital-based operations, many hospitals are challenged to operate outpatient facilities effectively. This article addresses those strategies designed to maximize patient referral and profitability for hospital-owned and operated outpatient imaging centers.