The author of this opinion piece discusses the issue of non-physician practitioners (NPPs) attempting to do radiologist-level work, which he refers to as the "bargaining" stage of grief. The author argues that the push for NPPs to interpret imaging studies is a result of the trade-off between quality, access, and affordability in healthcare. He states that allowing non-rads to interpret simpler types of imaging studies may seem palatable, but it is a logical misstep as it opens the door for them to eventually cross into more advanced types of imaging. The author points out a study that found a significant increase in NPPs interpreting CT and MR studies, particularly in metropolitan areas. He suggests that instead of focusing on creating more barriers, the focus should be on highlighting the unique value that radiologists bring to the table. The author proposes solutions such as giving radiologists full value for correcting NPP misreads, flagging incidents in a national database, and allowing clinicians to specify "interpretation by physician only" on orders for imaging. The author also mentions the launch of Konica Minolta's new handheld ultrasound device and discusses emerging trends in the radiology workforce, the benefits of photon-counting CT for lung assessment, consensus MRI guidelines for multiple sclerosis, an image IQ quiz, and the prevalence of extraneous imaging in trauma radiology.
Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:03:43 GMT | Diagnostic Imaging