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.
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A new report conveys the cumulative impact of ongoing challenges with radiologist residency positions, reimbursement, post-COVID-19 attrition rates and the aging of the population upon the persistent shortage of radiologists in the United States.
The Reading Room Podcast: Current Insights on Recent Research About Radiation-Induced Cancers with CT Scans, Part 2
In a second part of a new podcast episode on recently published research on projected radiation-induced cancers from computed tomography (CT) scans, Mahadevappa Mahesh, MS, Ph.D., and Joseph Cavallo, M.D., offer current perspectives on cardiac CT dosing, AI advances and the importance of teamwork in ensuring appropriate dosing for CT.
New Study Shows Impact of Tau-Positive PET in Risk Stratification for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
For people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), new research suggests that a combination of amyloid-positive and tau-positive PET findings is linked to a nearly 70 percent risk of progressing to dementia in five years in comparison to an approximate 30 percent risk for those with amyloid β positive and tau-negative PET.
The Reading Room Podcast: Current Insights on Recent Research About Radiation-Induced Cancers with CT Scans, Part 1
In a new podcast, Mahadevappa Mahesh, MS, Ph.D., and Joseph Cavallo, M.D., share their perspectives on recently published research looking at projections for future radiation-induced cancers from computed tomography (CT) scans.
Philips Launches Flash 5100 Point-of-Care Ultrasound System
Offering a combination of intuitive touchscreen controls and enhanced image clarity, the portable Flash 5100 POC ultrasound platform reportedly facilitates confident and rapid assessment in emergency radiology and critical care settings.
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