Self-referral: The time for whining is over

Abstract

This issue of JACR includes yet another excellent article by Drs. David Levin and Vijay Rao in their “Turf Wars in Radiology” series on self-referral. This one goes beyond what the authors have done in past issues [ 1 Levin D.C. Rao V.M. Turf wars in radiology introduction. J Am Coll Radiol. 2004; 1: 23-25 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar , 2 Levin D.C. Rao V.M. Turf wars in radiology the overutilization of imaging resulting from self-referral. J Am Coll Radiol. 2004; 1: 169-173 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (97) Google Scholar , 3 Levin D.C. Rao V.M. Turf wars in radiology other causes of overutilization and what can be done about it. J. Am Coll Radiol. 2004; 1: 317-321 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (36) Google Scholar , 4 Levin D.C. Rao V.M. Turf wars in radiology the quality of interpretations of imaging studies by nonradiologist physicians. J Am Coll Radiol. 2004; 1: 506-509 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar , 5 Levin D.C. Rao V.M. Turf wars in radiology the quality of imaging facilities operated by nonradiologist physicians and of the images they produce. J Am Coll Radiol. 2004; 1: 649-651 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (14) Google Scholar ]—providing data on the extent of the problem and outlining its impact—to suggest potential solutions for a problem that threatens not just our specialty but patients’ health and our country’s health care economy. The article is representative of a broader movement afoot to stop complaining and start providing solutions. It’s not a moment too soon. There’s some value to allowing a certain amount of “venting” about a problem, but after a while, it begins to be counterproductive—just plain old whining. At a certain point (and I believe we are well past that point), action needs to be taken.