The Impact of Self-Referral on Radiology Residency Training Programs

Abstract

The self-referral by nonradiologist physicians of diagnostic imaging and interventional procedures has affected radiology residency training programs. The Association of Program Directors in Radiology surveyed its members to assess the impact on specific areas of training. The authors surveyed 186 residency program directors. Forty-three percent of those contacted responded. Fifty-two of 80 respondents (65%) said that in their opinion, self-referral had had an impact on residency training. Of the 52 program directors who said that their programs had been affected, 47 (90%) reported that in their opinion, self-referral had a negative impact on their training programs. The areas most affected were vascular interventional radiology, obstetric ultrasound, and nuclear cardiology. Self-referral endangers the quality of radiology residencies. The authors discuss strategies to protect radiology residency programs.