Radiology’s technology advances threaten to push the specialty back into the dark – here is what providers need to pay attention to.
Radiology is largely the hub of all clinical activity with providers giving referring physicians the diagnostic details that are critical to patient treatment and management. But, the specialty is in danger of fading into the shadows if it is not careful.
In an editorial published in European Radiology, Adrian P. Brady, MB, head of radiology at Mercy University Hospital in Cook, Ireland, raised six red flags. There is potential, he said, for recent, useful advances that have increased radiologist productivity to actually work against the profession, pushing it to the fringes of healthcare.
For more coverage based on industry expert insights and research, subscribe to the Diagnostic Imaging e-Newsletter here.
“We have spent many decades striving to bring radiology to the center of patient care. That is not going to change any time soon, but what could change is the perception of the contribution of radiologists,” he said. “We cannot expect recognition for our contribution if we hide from view. By being aware of the risks and dangers of invisibility, we can mitigate them, and continue to represent our specialty positively, and in plain sight.”
These are the areas he suggested radiologists keep top-of-mind:
Paying attention to these issues is vital, Brady said, because the work of radiology will continue. Providers must safeguard themselves from becoming strangers to the referring providers with whom they once worked face-to-face.
“If we are hidden away in an office, rarely meeting patients or referrers, it is only a small step to being forgotten,” he warned. “So, however much our technology, work circumstances, and inclinations may conspire, let us not allow ourselves become the recluses of medicine.”
The Reading Room: Artificial Intelligence: What RSNA 2020 Offered, and What 2021 Could Bring
December 5th 2020Nina Kottler, M.D., chief medical officer of AI at Radiology Partners, discusses, during RSNA 2020, what new developments the annual meeting provided about these technologies, sessions to access, and what to expect in the coming year.
Four Strategies to Address the Tipping Point in Radiology
January 17th 2025In order to flip the script on the impact of the radiology workforce shortage, radiology groups and practices need to make sound investments in technologies and leverage partnerships to mitigate gaps in coverage and maximize workflow efficiencies.
Shaping the Future of Radiology in 2025: Trends, Threats, and Opportunities
January 10th 2025How do we respond to challenges with staff recruitment, cybersecurity, and looming hospital takeovers in radiology? This author assesses key trends in radiology and offers key insights to stay competitive in the field.