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.
