There is another perspective on the analysis of proposed CMS regulations as described in your article CMS plan could take a bite out of teleradiology night reads, published July 29.
The analysis of the regulations correctly states that motivated teleradiology companies will work hard to get their radiologists privileges at a hospital where it has contracted to provide extensive services. It also notes that hurdles to privileging might have the perverse effect of invoking resistance on the parts of hospitals when an incumbent radiology group seeks to obtain outsourced services.
But there is a problem with hospitals accepting the credentials of others (The Joint Commission, teleradiology companies, or other hospitals). That approach bypasses normal medical staff oversight. This is inimical to patient care and undermines the security of all medical staff: now radiologists-next, someone else.
At a time when there appears to be a reckless attitude on the part of shortsighted hospital CEOs and their boards of directors toward radiology service providers, many consultants and well-known radiologists are appropriately advising radiology practices to make medical staffs their allies. The benefits of these efforts are compounded because the medical staff has a strong role in credentialing.
Removing the local oversight of credentialing weakens what are potentially the only allies that patients and radiologists might have.
I submit that the benefits of medical staff involvement outweigh the potential disincentives to introducing teleradiology when a radiology practice seeks them out. In fact, the ACR has a policy that states, “The American College of Radiology regards care by onsite radiologists preferable to teleradiology, the latter being most useful as a supplement to onsite care for purposes such as subspecialty consultation and to provide coverage for underserved areas where the physical presence of a radiologist is not feasible.”
A decision to introduce outsourced providers to a hospital should be taken very seriously, and hurdles are appropriate.
Dr. Kaye chairs the radiology department at Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System, in Bridgeport, CT.
Comment: Hurdles to remote credentialing protect radiologists and quality of care
There is another perspective on the analysis of proposed CMS regulations as described in your article "CMS plan could take a bite out of teleradiology night reads," published July 29. There is a problem with hospitals accepting the credentials of others. That approach bypasses normal medical staff oversight. This is inimical to patient care and undermines the security of all medical staff: now radiologists-next, someone else.
There is another perspective on the analysis of proposed CMS regulations as described in your article CMS plan could take a bite out of teleradiology night reads, published July 29.
The analysis of the regulations correctly states that motivated teleradiology companies will work hard to get their radiologists privileges at a hospital where it has contracted to provide extensive services. It also notes that hurdles to privileging might have the perverse effect of invoking resistance on the parts of hospitals when an incumbent radiology group seeks to obtain outsourced services.
But there is a problem with hospitals accepting the credentials of others (The Joint Commission, teleradiology companies, or other hospitals). That approach bypasses normal medical staff oversight. This is inimical to patient care and undermines the security of all medical staff: now radiologists-next, someone else.
At a time when there appears to be a reckless attitude on the part of shortsighted hospital CEOs and their boards of directors toward radiology service providers, many consultants and well-known radiologists are appropriately advising radiology practices to make medical staffs their allies. The benefits of these efforts are compounded because the medical staff has a strong role in credentialing.
Removing the local oversight of credentialing weakens what are potentially the only allies that patients and radiologists might have.
I submit that the benefits of medical staff involvement outweigh the potential disincentives to introducing teleradiology when a radiology practice seeks them out. In fact, the ACR has a policy that states, “The American College of Radiology regards care by onsite radiologists preferable to teleradiology, the latter being most useful as a supplement to onsite care for purposes such as subspecialty consultation and to provide coverage for underserved areas where the physical presence of a radiologist is not feasible.”
A decision to introduce outsourced providers to a hospital should be taken very seriously, and hurdles are appropriate.
Dr. Kaye chairs the radiology department at Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System, in Bridgeport, CT.
Study: Mammography AI Leads to 29 Percent Increase in Breast Cancer Detection
Use of the mammography AI software had a nearly equivalent false positive rate as unassisted radiologist interpretation and resulted in a 44 percent reduction in screen reading workload, according to findings from a randomized controlled trial involving over 105,000 women.
The Reading Room Podcast: Emerging Concepts in Breast Cancer Screening and Health Equity Implications, Part 3
In the third episode of a three-part podcast, Anand Narayan, M.D., Ph.D., and Amy Patel, M.D., discuss the challenges of expanded breast cancer screening amid a backdrop of radiologist shortages and ever-increasing volume on radiology worklists.
Can Mammography-Based AI Enhance Breast MRI Use in Patients with Intermediate Risk for Breast Cancer?
For women with intermediate risk and a personal history of breast cancer, an emerging AI system offered an 81 percent AUC for breast cancer detection, according to new research.
The Reading Room Podcast: Emerging Concepts in Breast Cancer Screening and Health Equity Implications, Part 2
In the second episode of a three-part podcast, Anand Narayan, M.D., Ph.D., and Amy Patel, M.D., discuss recent studies published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that suggested moving to more of a risk-adapted model for mammography screening.
How Embracing Technologies May Help Mitigate Burnout and the Radiologist Shortage
In light of increasing imaging volume, retirements and burnout in radiology, this author suggests that technologies such as portable X-ray devices may have a significant impact.
Enduring the Endless Password Shuffle in Radiology
Could there be a simpler more secure alternative to the daily dance with password managers, VPNs, and authenticator apps?
Study: Mammography AI Leads to 29 Percent Increase in Breast Cancer Detection
Use of the mammography AI software had a nearly equivalent false positive rate as unassisted radiologist interpretation and resulted in a 44 percent reduction in screen reading workload, according to findings from a randomized controlled trial involving over 105,000 women.
The Reading Room Podcast: Emerging Concepts in Breast Cancer Screening and Health Equity Implications, Part 3
In the third episode of a three-part podcast, Anand Narayan, M.D., Ph.D., and Amy Patel, M.D., discuss the challenges of expanded breast cancer screening amid a backdrop of radiologist shortages and ever-increasing volume on radiology worklists.
Can Mammography-Based AI Enhance Breast MRI Use in Patients with Intermediate Risk for Breast Cancer?
For women with intermediate risk and a personal history of breast cancer, an emerging AI system offered an 81 percent AUC for breast cancer detection, according to new research.
The Reading Room Podcast: Emerging Concepts in Breast Cancer Screening and Health Equity Implications, Part 2
In the second episode of a three-part podcast, Anand Narayan, M.D., Ph.D., and Amy Patel, M.D., discuss recent studies published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that suggested moving to more of a risk-adapted model for mammography screening.
How Embracing Technologies May Help Mitigate Burnout and the Radiologist Shortage
In light of increasing imaging volume, retirements and burnout in radiology, this author suggests that technologies such as portable X-ray devices may have a significant impact.
Enduring the Endless Password Shuffle in Radiology
Could there be a simpler more secure alternative to the daily dance with password managers, VPNs, and authenticator apps?