Physician trainees aren’t being properly prepared to order imaging

A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Radiology confirmed something that most radiologists likely already knew to be true: physician trainees do not have a firm grasp of the costs associated with medical imaging.

The study’s authors surveyed more than 350 trainees from a variety of disciplines about the Medicare national average total allowable fees for five common imaging exams, and they pretty much flunked the test.

Even if that result isn’t surprising, consider what it says about future generations of physicians, as noted in the study by lead author Arvind Vijayasarathi, MD, MPH, MBA, and colleagues: “These findings suggest that graduating medical students may be unprepared to order the right imaging examinations for their patients in the safest, most appropriate, and most judicious manner.”

To be fair, even radiologists graduate from medical school with a limited understanding of imaging costs. But it’s still concerning that physicians aren’t being properly trained to order exams from a radiologist; it’s a skill many of them will need.

As modern healthcare leans more and more on quality, this is an issue medical schools must address. If physicians were taught more about the financial implications of these exams, it would be beneficial for the physicians themselves, the radiologists, the patients, and the providers.

The good news is that clinical decision support software is more prevalent in hospitals than ever before, and this will obviously help ordering physicians make better choices—but it’s not enough. Using CDS like duct tape to patch up a flawed process is not a true solution. Using it in tandem with improved education, however, could help improve the way imaging exams are ordered for generations to come.

And the best part is that this is a win-win situation; there’s no downside here. As Vijayasarathi and colleagues said themselves, more education about imaging costs—as well as radiation dose and patient safety—can go a long way toward producing graduates who are better prepared to do their job.

So what are medical schools waiting for?