Dergon, in a thread on radHQ.net on how the radiologist shortage is affecting private-practice radiology groups.

What can be done to make radiology reporting more efficient? In this episode of The Imaging Wire Show, we spoke with Rob Newman, co-founder of Kailo Medical, about the company’s efforts to help radiologists become more efficient through better reporting tools.

Imaging Wire Sponsors

AGFA HealthCare  •  Bayer  •  Blackford  •  CARPL.ai  •  Clearpath  •  DeepHealth  •  Enlitic  •  Gleamer  •  Intelerad  •  Medality  •  Merge by Merative  •  Nuance  •  PocketHealth  •  Riverain Technologies  •  Siemens Healthineers  •  SpinTech MRI  •  TeraRecon  •  United Imaging  •  Us2.ai  •  Visage Imaging  •  

Radiologists

Radiology’s Private-Practice Squeeze

It’s no secret that US radiology’s traditional private-practice model has been slowly fading away, but new numbers published in AJR illustrate the magnitude of the shift. The number of radiologist-affiliated and radiologist-only practices has dropped, even as the total number of US radiologists has gone up. 

Radiology has long prided itself on a cozy business model in which radiologists banded together as owner-operators of small private-practice groups that contracted their services with hospitals. 

• This model has had many benefits for radiologists, but it’s begun to fray in the face of competitive threats like teleradiology providers, health system consolidation, and large national radiology groups like Radiology Partners.

Many radiologists have chosen to switch rather than fight, selling out to national groups or taking positions as employees within health systems.

• Meanwhile, some practices that want to stay independent are finding strength in numbers by joining with other like-minded groups or seeking out multi-specialty medical groups. 

In the new study, researchers from the ACR’s Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute analyzed CMS data from 2014 to 2023, tracking not only changes in the number of US radiologists but also their type of employment, finding …

• The number of radiologists grew 17%, from 30.7k to 36k
• But the number of radiologist-affiliated practices fell 15%, from 5.1k to 4.3k
• The number of radiology-only practices fell 32%
• The number of small radiology practices fell, with the decline varying by practice size: 1-2 radiologists -19%, 3-9 radiologists -34%, and 10-24 radiologists -25%
• The number of large practices jumped, with the biggest increase – 349% – at very large practices (over 100 radiologists)
• The mean number of radiologists per practice shot up 84%, from 9.7 to 17.9

Why the shift? The researchers theorized that much of it was driven by federal policy and reimbursement changes that incentivize consolidation, mostly to spread the risk and cost of compliance with various regulations like ACA and MACRA.

The Takeaway

There’s no question that radiology is changing – the question is what impact the changes will have on how radiologists perceive their work. The old guard may choose to rage against the dying of the light, while younger generations embrace the new model and its benefits for both professional careers and patient care. 

AI Helps Diagnose Scoliosis

In a poster at this week’s ESSR 2024 meeting in Switzerland, researchers will present the latest data on how Gleamer’s BoneMetrics AI solution can help diagnose scoliosis by automating Cobb angle calculations.

A Holistic Strategy For Enterprise AI

Finding, vetting, and deploying the right radiology AI solutions can be challenging. In this SIIM 2024 session on June 27 presented by Microsoft + Nuance, learn how industry leaders are laying the foundation for AI while solving today’s real-world workflow challenges.

The Wire

• AI for Breast Screening: This past year has seen a number of positive studies on AI for breast screening, and a new paper in Radiology adds to the body of work. Researchers in Denmark used ScreenPoint Medical’s Transpara AI algorithm to remove mammograms assessed as “normal” from double-reading workflow. In 119k women, AI with single reading reduced radiologist’s workload by 34% compared to double reading, while boosting cancer detection rates by 17% (0.82% vs. 0.70%) and reducing recall rates by 21% (2.46% vs. 3.09%). What’s not to like? 

• Study Questions DBT’s Value: As Europe debates wider adoption of DBT for breast screening, a new study in European Journal of Radiology offers a cautionary message. Belgian researchers performed DBT+FFDM exams in 429 women without symptoms but with elevated breast cancer risk; standard of care for these women is annual FFDM and breast ultrasound and MRI where indicated. Seven cancers were detected with the standard protocol (9.3 cancers per 1k women), and adding DBT did not find any additional cancers.

• GE Touts Breast PET Savings: Performing breast PET/CT exams with GE HealthCare’s Cerianna PET fluorine-18 fluoroestradiol (FES) tracer could save the US healthcare system $142M over five years. In an economic analysis sponsored by GE and published in PLOS One, researchers found that adding a PET/CT scan with Cerianna could increase the accuracy of determining estrogen receptor-positive lesions in patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer. GE acquired Cerianna with its purchase of Zionexa in 2021. 

• Food Insecurity and Breast Screening: A new study in JACR has linked food insecurity to lower mammography screening rates. Researchers surveyed 9k women ages 40-74, finding that those reporting higher levels of food security also had higher mammography screening rates (57%) compared to those whose food security was rated as low (42%) or very low (43%). The results echo a study presented at ASCO 2024 finding that eliminating an asset test for SNAP benefits led to higher breast screening rates. Radiology practices should consider screening patients for food security.

• Annalise Highlights UK AI Funding: Annalise.ai has received contracts to install its chest X-ray AI software at a half-dozen UK healthcare networks through the country’s AI Diagnostic Fund (AIDF). The AIDF was announced last year as part of the NHS’ effort to ramp up AI deployment; Annalise has been selected as the preferred AI provider at six imaging networks. The company’s solutions will be used by clinicians performing 2.8M chest X-rays a year, or 35% of all chest radiographs conducted annually in the UK. 

• MRI or PSA First for Prostate Screening? A new prostate cancer screening study in Annals of Internal Medicine came to a conclusion that should surprise no one – using MRI as a first-line screening tool is more expensive than PSA tests. In a modeling study, researchers compared first-line biparametric MRI to PSA with multiparametric MRI if needed; the MRI-first strategy resulted in higher rates of false-positive tests, biopsies, and overdiagnosis without substantial reductions in mortality. Other studies have found that prostate MRI works best in a follow-up role.

• PSA Test Access Reduces Mortality: In related news, PSA testing is an imperfect screening tool, but a new study suggests that better access to PSA screening leads to better outcomes. In a study in JAMA Network Open, researchers followed outcomes for 815k men with prostate cancer – men living in counties with the highest rates of PSA testing had 14% lower chance of advanced disease compared to men in counties with the lowest testing rates, as well as 14% lower all-cause mortality and 17% lower prostate cancer mortality. 

• UltraSight Does Deal with Mayo: UltraSight has signed a collaboration with Mayo Clinic to expand the use of point-of-care ultrasound through joint development of AI algorithms for analyzing and interpreting cardiac ultrasound images. The partners will collaborate on ways to make cardiac POCUS available to a wider range of caregivers; UltraSight’s POCUS software for guiding healthcare professionals was cleared by the FDA in 2023. Mayo became an investor in UltraSight as part of the deal. 

• Nanox Adds AI to Second Opinions: Nanox has added an option to its Second Opinions medical consultation service that enables patients to have their medical images analyzed by AI software. Nanox integrated three of its Nanox.AI solutions into the service, for detecting coronary artery calcium, bone mineral density, and liver density. Second Opinions is operated by the company’s USARAD teleradiology service, which Nanox acquired in 2021, while Nanox.AI is the successor to Zebra-Med, also acquired in 2021.

• Telix Files BLA for Kidney PET Tracer: Australian radiopharmaceutical developer Telix Pharmaceuticals has filed a Biologic License Application (BLA) with the FDA for TLX250-CDx (Zircaix), a zirconium-89-based agent for PET imaging of renal cell carcinoma. Telix has requested priority review of Zircaix under a Breakthrough Therapy designation, with the company noting the lack of imaging agents for kidney cancer. The submission followed on Telix’s filing of an NDA for TLX007-CDx for prostate cancer. 

• Mummified Heart Disease: The modern diet and sedentary lifestyle are commonly blamed for our high rates of heart disease, but a recent study of mummified remains shows that heart disease was also common 4,000 years ago. The researchers performed CT scans on 237 adult mummies from seven different global cultures and a range of social classes, finding that 37% had atherosclerosis. In addition to being the most unique study we’ve covered in a while, these results highlight humans’ innate cardiovascular risks and underscore the need to control modern risk factors.

Experience the Platform for the Future

Register now for a priority demo at SIIM 2024 of Visage 7, Visage Imaging’s trailblazing platform for the future of enterprise imaging, based on industry standards and multi-cloud support.

The Radiology Report with Francis Deng, MD

In this episode of The Radiology Report podcast, Medality Co-Founder and CEO Daniel Arnold talks to Francis Deng, MD, about his decision to enter neuroradiology. Listen to this episode as well as other interviews with leaders in radiology.

Leveraging a Proven Echo AI Platform

Us2.ai has developed a promising new pathway for bringing custom echo AI applications into widespread clinical and commercial use – historically a challenge for algorithms produced by health systems and academic institutions. Find out how it worked in Uganda in this article.

The Resource Wire

• Data Standardization Gets Even Better: With the release of Enlitic’s Ensight 2.0, the radiology industry’s premier solution for data standardization has gotten even better. Find out how the new enhancements in 2.0 can help your organization transform your imaging data into actionable insights.

• Meet Merge at SIIM 2024: Whether you’re a physician, IT administrator, or imaging business leader, meet with Merge by Merative at SIIM 2024 to find out how you can benefit from Merge imaging solutions, and sign up now for a June 28 talk on a modular approach to innovation. 

• Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Image Exchange Solution? Ask yourself these 5 questions to find out whether your enterprise image exchange solution is maximizing patient satisfaction, efficiency and driving revenue. If not, PocketHealth can help. 

• Ignite Your Imaging AI Strategy: Take your imaging AI strategy to the next level at SIIM 2024 by attending insightful sessions on AI adoption and deployment from Calantic by Bayer, including planning an AI orchestration platform and the benefits of integrating AI in radiology departments. Reserve your spot today.

• Artificial Intelligence for Coordinated Care: TeraRecon’s Eureka AI platform is a vendor-agnostic hosting platform that can help execute clinical and non-clinical AI algorithms to improve outcomes, reduce burnout, and streamline radiology workflow. Learn how it works on this page.

• Redefining Excellence in Molecular Imaging: United Imaging is set to disrupt molecular imaging once again at SNMMI 2024. Join the company for a product launch on June 9, or reserve your spot today for their June 9 evening event or June 10 satellite symposium. 

• Cloud-Based Disaster Recovery: When disaster strikes, have peace of mind knowing your imaging data is safe. Securely store backups with Intelerad’s InteleArchive solution, ensuring your imaging data is there when you need it. Get started by booking a demo today. 

• What Does Improved MRI Efficiency Mean? There’s a growing need for practical, cost-effective solutions to improve efficiency in MRI and other modalities. Read this article from Karen Holzberger of SpinTech MRI and James Backstrom, MD, to learn how the company’s STAGE software can help. 

• Unlock the Power of Networked Radiology: Learn about the importance of networked radiology in modern healthcare systems in this webinar at 1 pm ET on June 11, hosted by SIIM and AGFA HealthCare. Reserve your spot today. 

• Drivers of AI Usage in Radiology: Radiologists are being asked to read more, read faster, and with a higher degree of accuracy as imaging data grows in volume and complexity. In this video, listen to Bernardo Bizzo, MD, and Riverain CEO Steve Worrell explain how this is driving AI usage.

• Presenting Unboxing AI: Check out CARPL’s brand-new video series, Unboxing AI, featuring experts discussing AI and its future in radiology. The next episode features Robert Lauritzen of Cerebriu on June 7 – reserve your seat today. 

• The Latest Molecular Imaging Innovations: Visit Siemens Healthineers at SNMMI 2024 to learn about the latest innovations in molecular imaging, from new advances in precision PET/CT to integrating theranostics for personalized prostate cancer treatments. 

• Imaging Workflows that Actually Work: Not a fan of medical image exchange on discs? Then check out Clearpath and find out how it’s removing obstacles to better radiology workflow. Request a demo today. 

• Get to Know DeepHealth: What’s the latest from DeepHealth? In this episode of the Imaging Wire Show, we talked to COO/CTO Sham Sokka about the company’s recent launch and their take on the value AI provides to radiology, especially for screening.  

• Top 5 Obstacles to Radiology AI Adoption: AI is reshaping healthcare, but some healthcare providers are encountering hurdles that demand strategic approaches for successful implementation. Learn the top 5 obstacles to radiology AI adoption – and how to avoid them – in this blog post from Blackford.