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Frank Seidelmann has worked in radiology for 35 years and is currently chair of the board and clinical director of neuroradiology at Radisphere National Radiology Group in Beachwood, Ohio. He was recently asked by imagingBiz.com about the past and future changes in medical imaging. Here are the summarized highlights of the interview:
- Specialization and easy image transfer revolutionized medical imaging practice. As medical imaging technology improved, hospitals went from using medical imaging infrequently to demanding it in many different fields. PACS enabled radiologists and other medical imaging professionals to consult with one another easily, even if they were in different locations.
- Demand for radiology is not going to go down. It’s just too valuable as a diagnostic and interventional tool.
- Radiologists will have to adapt to a different payment model. Fee-for-service is slowly going away and quality-based payment is growing, which means that both in-hospital and independent radiology groups will probably have to get bigger and more efficient to survive. Radiologists will also gravitate toward larger groups when it becomes too cumbersome to be in a practice that demands lots of time without proportional reimbursement
- Radiologists need to get much more involved with their clinical colleagues, both as educators and consultants. Clinicians need interpretations on their patients’ schedules, and radiologists have to adapt to that.
- Full-service radiology practices will be the norm. These practices will include several specialties and subspecialties and will provide 24/7 service for emergency rooms and other after-hours practices.
- Constant improvement is a necessity. Hospitals and other healthcare providers want more value from their radiology and other medical imaging departments. Radiologists have to constantly learn how to deliver.
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