Why we use Subspecialty Radiologists
at Bitterroot Imaging | Open MRI
The rapid growth for subspecialty radiology during the past few years has been driven by a convergence of a number of market and technology drivers:
- the growing complexity of modalities;
- the shortage of radiologists;
- the economic pressures on practices to deliver healthcare at the most cost effective and efficient staffing levels;
- and the realization among imaging facilities that report quality can become a competitive advantage for growing the practice.
True subspecialty expertise can only be achieved by interpreting a high volume of specific cases and most traditional imaging facilities do not generate a high enough volume of annual subspecialty cases per radiologist to build or maintain expertise. For example, typical imaging facilities generate approximately 1,500 -5,000 total musculoskeletal (MSK) cases a year, which must then be divided up between the radiologists on staff. It is the opinion of Franklin & Seidelmann that expertise is achieved after a radiologist interprets 10,000-15,000 cases in a dedicated subspecialty area and then requires an annual volume of 10,000-12,000 cases to maintain his or her expertise level. True maturation is achieved at 30,000-50,000 cases.
It is also very challenging to find on-site subspecialty experts across all geographical areas since the radiology shortage is even more pronounced with subspecialists. This is why subspecialty teleradiology providers are emerging as a solution to the shortage and expertise challenge because they employ the hard-to-find subspecialty radiologists who can live in any location. Images, information and reports are distributed quickly and securely between radiologists and imaging facilities through teleradiology platforms. Additionally, because these virtual networks aggregate subspecialty cases from imaging facilities around the country they have the high volumes required to maintain the expertise levels of their radiologists.
