Dana Smetherman discusses ACR concerns over radiology practice consolidation

The American College of Radiology is voicing concern over the rapid consolidation of practices, which has left fewer than half of radiologists working in independent private practice, according to CEO Dana Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA.

"One of the big trends we have seen is consolidation, but it's really not just confined to radiology or even healthcare," she said in a recent interview with Radiology Business. "People are looking for economies of scale, given inflation and other economic pressures and regulatory burdens. It gets very hard for a small business, and ultimately some of our independent private practices are really small businesses just like any other small businesses."

Traditionally, private radiology groups were made up of 10 to 15 physicians. Even a practice of 30 radiologists was once considered large. Today, however, it is common to see hundreds of radiologists working under the umbrella of a corporate-owned practice, academic medical center, or hospital-based healthcare system. Private equity-backed consolidation has accelerated that shift, fundamentally changing the landscape of how radiology is delivered across the country.