Managing Risk of International Teleradiology

ACR is American college of radiology. They have been upfront in terms of setting up guidelines and standards into radiology practice. Due to advent of the teleradiology the pressure is on making prudent guidelines that balances the patient care and quality of reporting. The responsibility is not just to set the guideless or to dictate the terms of engagement for diagnostic facilities but also to fund or to bring fair report on quality of MRI and CT reports. However, there are a few studies that suggest the international teleradiology is responsible for poor patient care, but it does affect the payment structure of the local radiologist or system in the country. 

 Second Opinion can avoid Malpractice

While talking about quality, the new tech platform like MRI second opinion platforms is helping patients to get additional opinion when primary report is in doubt. This system works for the best as patient has two reports primary and secondary. Most of the radiology associations including ACR are asking for financial malpractice insurance premium from fellow radiologist who might have little earning compared ti radiologist from West. The extra USD premium impedes on patients indirectly. What iif along with primary MRI or CT report from local doctor, the patient gets an MRI or CT second opinion from the other part of the world? says Dr Roy a senior radiologist with 30 years of experience from TeleradiologyHub.com. let us have a fair play in making patient free from the captivity of radiology associations.

Teleradiology Risk Managing ACR Way

ACR has typically derived most f the guideless from a white paper. Gregory L. Katzman writes in Radiology Business Practice, 2008 which becomes backbone for the ACR guidelines in the USA.

Here are few action points suggested in the above paper:
1 It is critical that its use not reduce quality patient care.

2. International teleradiology should adhere to the ACR Technical Standard for Teleradiology.

3. A physician making an interpretation outside of the country should be licensed in the transmitting state, have liability insurance, be credentialed, and have membership on the medical staff.

4. Physicians should independently interpret teleradiology studies that are read outside the United States and provide the official authenticated written reports.

5. Any group that obtains final interpretations from overseas should ensure that such physicians providing image interpretation have proper liability coverage, state licensure, and credentials.

6 All physicians providing imaging interpretations based both in the United States and abroad should participate in a QA program that must be equivalent to or exceed that of the service hospital.

7. Physicians interpreting emergent cases should be immediately available for consultations. For nonemergent cases, physicians should either be available for consultation or make arrangements to communicate findings.

8. International teleradiology is subject to both U.S. and state privacy laws and regulations. Practices based in the United States that contract teleradiology services should expect to be held jointly responsible for any violations.