Teleradiology has revolutionized the way imaging services are provided across various healthcare settings. Understanding how different facilities utilize teleradiology can help determine if it fits your imaging business well. Let’s explore how teleradiology is implemented and who is using these services.
Full Radiology Coverage
Comprehensive Radiology Services
Some facilities rely on teleradiology for complete radiology coverage. This means that all imaging interpretations are outsourced to a teleradiology provider. This approach is especially beneficial for smaller hospitals or outpatient imaging centers that may not have the resources to employ full-time radiologists on-site.
Partial Radiology Coverage
Supplementing In-House Radiologists
Other facilities use teleradiology to supplement their existing radiology services. This partial coverage can help manage workload during peak hours or when there is a shortage of in-house radiologists. By integrating teleradiology into their operations, these facilities can ensure continuous, efficient service without overburdening their staff.
Overflow and Vacation Coverage.
Handling Peak Times and Staff Shortages
Teleradiology is also commonly used for overflow and vacation coverage. During peak times or when in-house radiologists are on leave, teleradiology services can step in to handle the increased workload. This ensures that patient care remains uninterrupted and that all imaging studies are interpreted promptly. Due to the shortage of radiologists, long-term agreements with monthly minimums are common.
Healthcare Facilities Using Teleradiology
Hospitals
Large and small hospitals alike use teleradiology to enhance their radiology services. This helps them provide 24/7 coverage and access to subspecialty radiologists.
Outpatient Imaging Centers
These centers often use teleradiology to expand their service offerings without the need to hire their own or additional radiologists. This allows them to provide a wide range of imaging services efficiently.
Physician Practices
Multi-specialty practices, including neurologists, orthopedists, and women’s health specialists, benefit from teleradiology by ensuring their patients receive expert imaging interpretations.
Radiology Groups
Radiology groups use teleradiology to expand their full-time equivalent (FTE), fill coverage gaps, and provide subspecialty interpretations in areas like musculoskeletal (MSK), neuro, and women’s health.
Teleradiology offers flexible solutions for various healthcare settings, from full coverage and partial support to overflow and vacation coverage. By understanding how different facilities utilize these services, you can better assess if teleradiology is the right choice for your imaging business. Whether you run a hospital, outpatient imaging center, physician practice, or radiology group, teleradiology can help enhance your service delivery and patient care.
If you’re ready to explore how teleradiology can benefit your facility, contact us at NRAD today. Our team of experts is here to help you find the best solution tailored to your needs.
Teleradiology is not a brand-new concept in radiology, but it may be an avenue your imaging business or group has yet to explore. It could be the missing piece to use your resources most efficiently. If you are eager to learn more about what exactly teleradiology is, what types of businesses commonly use it, the benefits of utilizing a teleradiology service, and how to select a provider, you are in the right place!
Understanding Teleradiology
Definition of Teleradiology
Teleradiology can be defined as the digital transmission of patient images to an off-site radiologist for interpretation. In simpler terms, rather than relying solely on in-house, on-site doctors, teleradiology involves outsourcing the interpretation of patient images. One or several radiologists will read for your facility tomorrow, next week, or soon. Whether your facility or a teleradiology company employs these radiologists will change your workflow, cost, and, of course, the radiologists themselves.
Workflow of a Teleradiology Service
If your facility is working with a teleradiology provider, this is a general flow you can expect:
- You send the patient file, images, and prior images to a teleradiology company for interpretation.
- The radiologist reads the images.
- The approved report is sent back to your facility.
Due to the unique nature of your business, you and your referrals may have specific needs that would require a teleradiology company to customize your workflow. Turnaround time, report templates, and report word choice are possible areas where customization may be necessary.
Cost Considerations: Fixed vs. Variable Costs
The cost associated with your image interpretation can be either fixed or variable. Radiologists on salary create a fixed-cost model. When radiologists are paid per approved study, costs are variable, depending on your volumes and the mix of studies. When utilizing teleradiology coverage, you will most often be charged per study, resulting in variable interpretation costs based on your monthly volume.
Quality of Radiologists
The quality of the radiologists employed by a teleradiology company can make or break the service. Some teleradiology companies employ almost only fellowship and subspecialty-trained radiologists. In this case, most of what these doctors read will fall within their specialty, which is very marketable information you can share with referral sources and patients.
Some teleradiology companies market the speed of their turnaround times, which sometimes means they turn high volumes, read mainly X-ray studies, and employ primarily generalists. Additionally, since certain stand-alone facilities require an on-site radiologist, a few teleradiology companies will provide on-site radiologists as an option. In recent years, with the vast shortage of radiologists, on-site physicians are challenging to resource.
Teleradiology offers numerous advantages for imaging businesses, from workflow customization and cost-efficiency to high-quality reads by specialized radiologists. By understanding the fundamentals of teleradiology and how it can fit into your facility’s operations, you can make informed decisions that enhance patient care and operational efficiency. If you haven’t yet explored teleradiology for your imaging business, now might be the perfect time to consider its potential benefits.
