US Radiology Specialists expands to New York state, adding 5 imaging centers to its network

Growing physician practice US Radiology Specialists is expanding into New York state for the first time, adding five outpatient imaging centers to its network, officials announced Tuesday.

The Raleigh, North Carolina, company is doing so through a partnership with Windsong Radiology Group. Established in 1987, the upstate operator is one of Western New York’s largest, offering breast imaging and surgery, interventional procedures and diagnostic services.

“Windsong is an excellent fit for US Radiology,” CEO John Perkins said in a statement. “This pioneering group complements our strategy to work with leading subspecialized radiologists and to be national leaders in outpatient imaging.”

Leaders stopped short of calling this an acquisition. Rather, Windsong owners are selling their interests to US Radiology Specialists while retaining ownership in the larger national firm, Buffalo Business First reported. In turn, the larger practice is making a capital investment into its smaller counterpart, with Windsong physician partners notching an “aligned equity position,” the report noted.

“US Radiology has consistently demonstrated a commitment to local clinical autonomy and delivering the highest-quality patient care,” Windsong President Thomas Summers, MD, said in the announcement. “As a physician-led practice, this partnership will allow us to continue to raise the bar in clinical excellence.”

Following the news, US Radiology now operates 145 imaging centers across 14 states. Perkins and company last publicly announced an addition to their roster in January, teaming with Upstate Carolina Radiology to push their location count to 130 at the time.

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. 

Around the web

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

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.