ACR-RBMA workforce survey details sharp rise in radiologists reading remotely
New data detail the transformation from how remote work has moved from an occasional or specialized arrangement to a mainstream part of radiology practice.
According to the 2026 American College of Radiology/Radiology Business Management Association Workforce Survey, more than two-thirds of practicing radiologists now work remotely at least occasionally. Conducted annually since 2012, the survey tracks workforce trends and provides insight into the challenges that shape radiology practice. Its original format focused primarily on practice leaders, collecting information on radiologist staffing levels and anticipated hiring needs. However, in recent years the American College of Radiology expanded the survey to include individual radiologists, aiming to capture a broader range of perspectives and better understanding of the factors driving workforce trends.
The latest results indicate that 71% of radiologists now partake in some form of remote work as part of their practice. This number is up significantly from the survey’s 2024 results, which suggested that around 55% of radiologists were delivering remote interpretations at the time.
The increase in remote work highlights how significantly the geography of radiology has changed. Remote reading is no longer limited to private groups or occasional coverage arrangements. Instead, it has become an increasingly common feature of the specialty, and it has given organizations more flexibility in how they distribute workloads and staff coverage.
“Remote work is no longer a niche arrangement or a category confined to remote-only radiology groups; it has evolved to being standard-operating procedure and critically important for most practices,” an ACR news release on the survey reads.
Teleradiology arrangements allow practices to recruit radiologists beyond their immediate geographic markets, match available readers with uncovered shifts and offer greater flexibility to existing employees. Remote arrangements also may help retain experienced radiologists who might otherwise reduce their hours or retire.
For radiologists, working remotely can reduce commuting hours and offer an alternative work environment that some may find more sustainable. At the practice level, these arrangements could help improve efficiency and expand available reading capacity without increasing the number of radiologists on staff.
Though it cannot resolve the slim margins between imaging demand and the radiologist workforce, its continuously growing adoption post-COVID suggests that remote working arrangements could continue to play an important role in staffing models and planning.
The ACR plans to publish additional articles in 2027 examining six areas of the survey’s responses in greater depth: remote reading, AI technologies, ownership and consolidation, early-career radiologists, academic practice and gender. Researchers and others interested in further analysis of the data can contact the ACR at [email protected].
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.