Foundation Radiology to Provide 24/7 Reads for United Radiology of MD

Foundation Radiology Group of Pittsburgh, PA signed an exclusive teleradiology deal to read advanced imaging studies performed at the Rockville, MD-based United Radiology. United Radiology is a diagnostic imaging provider that specializes in cardiac imaging, and claims to be the only site in the Mid-Atlantic region to offer rubidium-based PET/CT. “That’s their niche and we’re helping them fill that,” says Phil Feldstein, spokesperson for Foundation Radiology. Although the contract is a 24/7 arrangement, Feldstein says his group will especially be relied upon to provide final reads during night and weekend hours; “times when they might be busy and physicians can’t get to the studies that are being read. “We have over 50 radiologists,” says Feldstein, “but the ones that read PET/CT are a smaller list.”According to a press release, the agreement “will maximize the portfolio of specialized imaging services available to patients and referring physicians and change the ‘commodity’ perception of radiology in local communities.”

Around the web

The ACR hopes these changes, including the addition of diagnostic performance feedback, will help reduce the number of patients with incidental nodules lost to follow-up each year.

And it can do so with almost 100% accuracy as a first reader, according to a new large-scale analysis.

The patient, who was being cared for in the ICU, was not accompanied or monitored by nursing staff during his exam, despite being sedated.