Radiology practices and their contracts with hospitals, 1989-1990: a representative sample survey

Results of an American College of Radiology-Society of Interventional Radiology Membership Survey on Exclusive Contracts and the Attitudes of Interventional Radiologists

PURPOSE

To assess the attitudes of interventional radiologists (IRs) and diagnostic radiologists (DRs) toward exclusive contracts and independently practicing IRs who may request privileges at a hospital where an exclusive contract exists with a different group of radiologists.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 22,400 survey instruments were distributed to 4,490 IRs and 17,910 DRs in the United States. Statistical evaluation included multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis with calculation of the odds ratios and forest plots.

RESULTS

Completed surveys were received from 525 (11.69%) IRs and 401 (2.23%) DRs. Given the low response rate of DRs, data analysis was focused on IRs. Early-career IRs and those in outpatient practices had a more positive attitude toward independent IRs who requested admitting and/or procedural privileges. A supermajority of both IRs and DRs who responded to the survey agreed that the importance of IR to hospital and health system contracts will increase.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey identified many interrelated and complex variables that significantly affected the attitudes of IRs in various practice settings toward independent IRs requesting hospital admitting and/or procedural privileges. It will benefit independent IRs seeking admitting privileges to better understand some of the factors that impact the potential willingness of the radiology groups and other IRs with exclusive hospital contracts to work toward mutually beneficial practice paradigms, especially as more clinically oriented IRs complete their training in the new, integrated residency programs.

A comprehensive portrait of teleradiology in radiology practices: results from the American College of Radiology's 1999 Survey

OBJECTIVE

This article presents a comprehensive portrait of the characteristics of teleradiology systems of radiology practices as of 1999. Our purposes are to help profile a rapidly evolving area of radiology that has been underexamined to date and to provide a baseline with which future findings can be compared.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 1999, the American College of Radiology surveyed 970 practices by mail. A response rate of 66% was achieved. Responses were weighted to represent all radiology practices in the United States. Data from nine questions specifically designed to profile the use of teleradiology were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS

Seventy-one percent of multiradiologist practices had teleradiology systems in place, using them to interpret 5% of their studies. For solo practices, corresponding statistics were 30% and 14%. Ninety-two percent of multiradiologist practices with teleradiology systems used them for preliminary on-call interpretation. Other major uses included consultation with other radiologists (20%) and primary interpretation of studies (18%). Ninety-five percent of multiradiologist practices with teleradiology systems used them to interpret CT, 84% used them for sonography, 69% for nuclear medicine, 47% for MRI, and 43% for conventional radiographs.

CONCLUSION

Teleradiology had already become a fixture in most practices by 1999, though it was used for only a small fraction of image interpretations. Its widespread presence positioned teleradiology to become a key element of radiology practice nationwide.

Basic characteristics of radiology practices: results from the American College of Radiology's 1999 survey

OBJECTIVE

The basic characteristics of radiology practices in the United States are described. We defined radiology practices as diagnostic-radiology-only practices, either solo or multiradiologist practices. Findings were compared with those from other data sources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In May 1999, the American College of Radiology surveyed 970 practices by mail using a 65-item questionnaire. A final response rate of 66% was achieved. Weighting was used to make responses representative of all radiology practices in the United States.

RESULTS

Approximately 4400 radiology practices existed in the country; 39% were located in nonmetropolitan or rural areas. The greatest percentage of practices (85%) was private nonacademic radiology practices. The greatest percentage of practices (43%) served only hospitals. However, solo practices were particularly likely (p < or = 0.01) to serve only nonhospital sites. Of all multiradiologist practices, 87% were completely owned by their members, but approximately two thirds of academic multiradiologist practices had outside owners. Seventy percent of multiradiologist practices interpreted images from outside clinics or groups; these averaged 3.2 outside clinics or groups for which they interpreted images.

CONCLUSION

The basic characteristics of radiology practices in 1999 are described. Good agreement was seen with findings obtained from other data sources.