For physicians in rural areas, radiology services can be time consuming and taxing. Teleradiology services offer relief, but not without some considerations

In many remote health centers, there are not enough resources to have a permanent on-call radiologist to interpret test results. This can leave patients anxious ridden waiting for results. Fortunately, teleradiology offers a solution to this dilemma. Contracting with a teleradiology company allows health providers more time to devote to direct patient care, decrease the number of hours they work onsite and increases the speed that results are released.

A word of caution about teleradiology should be mentioned, however. Recent studies have found a small percentage of discrepancies based on teleradiology misinterpretation of read results. Major discrepancies in interpretations by teleradiologists and in-house radiologists occur in approximately 6% of commonly ordered CT scans, according to a new paper by The University of California, San Francisco-Fresno. The take-away from this study points to facilities closely examining any teleradiology company they are contracted with to ensure that the on-call radiologist are US Board certified and accredited. One study suggests that random checks are made on result reports to make sure that the teleradiologist is accurate.

Best-in-Class Teleradiology Services:

• Web-based architecture allowing web deployment of reporting interface without need of additional hardware requirements at reading site.
• System is able to incorporate security and encryption of DICOM data as per ACR and ESR guidelines.
• The reporting radiologist should be subject to the same qualification requirements that apply to radiologists located in the home country of the patient.

Top Considerations before buying Teleradiology Services:
While outsourcing images to on call radiologists alleviates late night calls, and transportation to multiple locations, research is finding discrepancies in remote diagnoses. Look for contracted companies that are reputable and consistent in reporting utilizing Board certified radiologists. Foreign-based and -trained physicians may not have adequate malpractice coverage, or they may actually be unlicensed providers.

Key Providers:
1. Imaging On Call Information Teleradiology Workflow supports providers with real people 24/7. The flow begins with providers submitting images to a workflow coordinator who ensures that documentation is complete before contracting with the appropriate radiologist, who submits reports or phones in any critical findings. All reporting is done through a secure channel. Imaging On Call employs Board certified, fellowship trained radiologists that are skilled in all imaging modalities and have a wide variety of subspecialties.

2. To combat the ever growing shortage of radiologists, Exacalibur offers Nighthawk radiology services which utilizes teleradiology technology so that patients may have quick diagnostic imaging interpretation without requiring an on-site radiologist. Excalibur offers board certified American trained and based diagnostic radiologists to assist you. 

3. Based on the military’s idea of “watches” or “periods of duty” Eagle Eye’s teleradiology services include a variety of applications to assist your radiologists during all hours. Features include, but are not limited to, 24/7/365 call coverage, a personalized solution for interpreting backlogged studies, in-depth subspecialty and consultation services. Diagnostic reports are delivered in a timely manner, appearing in the doctor’s hands by 8:00am the next business day. Transfer of records occurs in a secure transmission that exceeds all HIPAA requirements. Eagle Eye has partnered with AGFA to build a web-based technology solution that is powered by IMPAX 6.3 PACS with voice-integrated dictation.

4. Consider teleradiology contracts with NightShift Radiology, a comprehensive on-line solution to the shortage of radiologists. A U.S. based Board certified team will assist your facility in interpretation of patient imagery. Once transmissions are passed through a highly secure HIPAA regulated VPN, the NightShift team works to deliver preliminary and final interpretations as quickly as possible. Typed reports are usually delivered in 20 minutes or less on average. NightShift provides doctors with a dedicated, toll-free phone and fax line routed directly to the radiologist assigned to your facility.

Teleradiology Services
Definition: Teleradiology services link standard network technologies over the local area network (LAN) using highly specialized software to transmit the images to outsourced and contracted Radiologists to effectively analyze images from remote locations.