Practice inks pact to integrate radiologist teams with academic medical center in bid to boost recruitment

A Massachusetts radiology practice has inked a pact to integrate physician teams with one local academic hospital in a bid to boost recruitment and coverage.

Tufts Medical Center’s 20 radiologists will continue to work for the 415-bed nonprofit in Boston. However, they will also integrate with north suburban Commonwealth Radiology Associates’ team of 71 rads, with the Brockton, Massachusetts, private practice adding its first-ever academic committee to its governance structure.

“This first-in-the-market model will establish a much larger team of subspecialty-trained radiologists, leading to broader coverage, improved service and an attractive work environment to lure top talent,” Michael Tarnoff, MD, president and CEO of Tufts Medical Center, said Oct. 6. “Our radiologists will now have opportunities to work in a city-based academic medical center and/or a community environment in the suburbs.”

Commonwealth Radiology was founded in 2002 and provides services across 18 locations in Northeastern Massachusetts, billing itself as the largest private practice in the Bay State. Among its partners are 174-bed MelroseWakefield Healthcare along with 407-bed Lowell General Hospital. Those involved plan to launch the new partnership on Oct. 1.

“Our newly expanded group will enhance the Tufts MC academic mission by improving resident and medical student experience through broader exposure to faculty, new skillsets, and potentially new training environments,” added Al Hoffman, MD, president and CEO of Commonwealth Radiology Associates.

Marty Stempniak

Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic. 

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