The Practice of Radiology: Current and Future Trends

Abstract

W559 At the end of a partnership track, the majority of radiologists will become partners. As a partner, the radiologist will typically share equally in the profits of the practice, which after accounting for geography, payer, and case mix, are primarily determined by one factor: volume. In general, this is a path that has been secure and predictable. Year 2020: The neophyte radiologist will be more likely to be employed by a hospital, multispecialty group, or nonhospital corporation. Those entering private practice will likely join groups that are large by the standards of today. The largest practices may be national corporations. Outpatient practice independent of a hospital will be uncommon. There will be less security in many practices because local groups may need to compete with national practices for hospital contracts. The American Board of Radiology (ABR) examination will no longer be the definitive imprimatur of quality and value, rather, radiologists must provide additional evidence to hospitals and payers that what they do is valuable. Currently, one can expect reimbursement for performing and interpreting an imaging study regardless of the quality and value of the examination. In the future if this study does not meet certain metrics for performance and interpretation, it may be reimbursed at a lesser rate or not at all. Under bundled-payment systems, this study may actually add to provider costs rather than profit margins. This will also affect nonradiology imaging providers, who may find that the financial incentives for self-referral are further decreased and that the quality standards are too hard to meet. I have sometimes heard sentiments to the effect that imaging volume will continue to increase because of our aging population and the current widespread use of imaging in clinical medicine and that radiologists always come up with new imaging techniques. Neither of these is, in my opinion, very likely. The Practice of Radiology: Current and Future Trends