Many know Sol Radiology as the Southern California-based practice that, in this decade, grew from three radiologists to 45 in only three years. But other key indicators of Sol’s development might be the pieces from which presently small practices stand to learn the most.
When soaring imaging volumes began to exacerbate workload inequity and drive physician burnout, the leadership team at one prominent radiology practice found the root cause easy to isolate: operational fragmentation.
Radiology is rethinking reporting. Legacy systems are being swapped out in favor of intuitive, standardized, AI-powered tools. Greater automation is driving quantifiable improvements into both clinical outcomes and business metrics. Stated another way, radiology reporting is having a moment.
A referring physician orders an MRI of the lumbar spine and hits send. That order lands at three, sometimes four, outpatient imaging centers simultaneously. The center that contacts the patient first books the appointment. The rest miss out on the revenue.
3D surface modeling and virtual surgical planning are expanding radiology’s contribution to multidisciplinary teams. Together, AI-driven interpretation and 3D-enabled clinical collaboration represent two distinct, complementary forces shaping the next decade of radiology.
Consolidation and change are roiling the healthcare marketplace, and the repercussions are being felt throughout the vendor landscape, including the vibrant imaging IT segment that is so fundamental to the practice of 21st century radiology.
For all its high-tech gadgets, tools, prompts, aids and reminders, the modern radiology report really isn’t all that different from the first of its kind, rendered as a longhand note.
Those who think PACS optimization ends following a successful implementation should think again: Thirteen years after Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health implemented Synapse PACS, the work is ongoing to keep 50-plus radiologists happy and maximally productive.
Modern cancer care urgently demands new approaches. Lives are at risk, and an ever increasing number of cancer patients and complex examinations constitute more of the radiologist's workload than ever before.
Industry watchers seemed intrigued but not especially surprised when Konica Minolta Medical Imaging announced its acquisition of 100 plus-employee Viztek in early October. The response was understandable, as the fusing was equal parts bold and sensible.
It's hard to get things done when you're constantly being interrupted. This applies to any task, but is especially true for demanding tasks requiring focused concentration-like interpreting a medical image.
It's no secret that workflows in radiology are changing. A number of factors are impacting interpretation volume, while cutting-edge technologies are transforming how radiologists work.
