Teleradiology coming of age: winners and losers. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2008;190:1161-1162. [PMID: 18430825 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.07.3114]

Teleradiology: good practice guide

Teleradiology is the electronic transmission of radiological images from one location to another with the main purpose of interpreting or consulting a diagnosis and must be subject to codes of conduct agreed upon by professional societies. The content of fourteen teleradiology best practice guidelines is analyzed. Their guiding principles are: the best interest and benefit of the patient, quality and safety standards homologous to the local radiology service, and use as a complement and support of the same. As legal obligations: guaranteeing rights by applying the principle of the patient's country of origin, establishing requirements in international teleradiology and civil liability insurance. Regarding the radiological process: integration with the local service process, guaranteeing the quality of images and reports, access to previous studies and reports and complying with the principles of radioprotection. Regarding professional requirements: compliance with the required registrations, licenses and qualifications, training and qualification of the radiologist and technician, prevention of fraudulent practices, respect for labor standards and remuneration of the radiologist. Subcontracting must be justified, managing the risk of commoditization. Compliance with the system's technical standards.

A Review of Core Concepts of Imaging Informatics

There are myriad systems and standards used in imaging informatics. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) is the standard for displaying, transferring, and storing medical images. Health Level Seven International (HL7) develops and maintains standards for exchanging, integrating, and sharing medical data. Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) serves as the health provider's primary tool for viewing and interpreting medical images. Medical imaging depends on the interoperability of several of these systems. From entering the order into the electronic medical record (EMR), several systems receive and share medical data, including the radiology information system (RIS) and hospital information system (HIS). After acquiring an image, transformations may be performed to better focus on a specific area. The workflow from entering the order to receiving the report depends on many systems. Having disaster recovery and business continuity procedures is important should any issues arise. This article intends to review these essential concepts of imaging informatics.

COVID-19 imaging: Diagnostic approaches, challenges, and evolving advances

The role of radiology and the radiologist have evolved throughout the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Early on, chest computed tomography was used for screening and diagnosis of COVID-19; however, it is now indicated for high-risk patients, those with severe disease, or in areas where polymerase chain reaction testing is sparsely available. Chest radiography is now utilized mainly for monitoring disease progression in hospitalized patients showing signs of worsening clinical status. Additionally, many challenges at the operational level have been overcome within the field of radiology throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of teleradiology and virtual care clinics greatly enhanced our ability to socially distance and both are likely to remain important mediums for diagnostic imaging delivery and patient care. Opportunities to better utilize of imaging for detection of extrapulmonary manifestations and complications of COVID-19 disease will continue to arise as a more detailed understanding of the pathophysiology of the virus continues to be uncovered and identification of predisposing risk factors for complication development continue to be better understood. Furthermore, unidentified advancements in areas such as standardized imaging reporting, point-of-care ultrasound, and artificial intelligence offer exciting discovery pathways that will inevitably lead to improved care for patients with COVID-19.

Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in the Evolution of Teleradiology

OBJECTIVE. In recent decades, teleradiology has expanded considerably, and many radiology practices now engage in intraorganizational or extraorganizational teleradiology. In this era of patient primacy, optimizing patient care and care delivery is paramount. This article provides an update on recent changes, current challenges, and future opportunities centered around the ability of teleradiology to improve temporal and geographic imaging access. We review licensing and regulations and discuss teleradiology in providing services to rural areas and assisting with disaster response, including the response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. CONCLUSION. Teleradiology can help increase imaging efficiency and mitigate both geographic and temporal discrepancies in imaging care. Technologic limitations and regulatory hurdles hinder the optimal practice of teleradiology, and future attention to these issues may help ensure broader patient access to high-quality imaging across the United States.

The Empirical Foundations of Teleradiology and Related Applications: A Review of the Evidence

INTRODUCTION

Radiology was founded on a technological discovery by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895. Teleradiology also had its roots in technology dating back to 1947 with the successful transmission of radiographic images through telephone lines. Diagnostic radiology has become the eye of medicine in terms of diagnosing and treating injury and disease. This article documents the empirical foundations of teleradiology.

METHODS

A selective review of the credible literature during the past decade (2005-2015) was conducted, using robust research design and adequate sample size as criteria for inclusion.

FINDINGS

The evidence regarding feasibility of teleradiology and related information technology applications has been well documented for several decades. The majority of studies focused on intermediate outcomes, as indicated by comparability between teleradiology and conventional radiology. A consistent trend of concordance between the two modalities was observed in terms of diagnostic accuracy and reliability. Additional benefits include reductions in patient transfer, rehospitalization, and length of stay.

Mapping telemedicine efforts: surveying regional initiatives in Denmark

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to survey telemedicine services currently in operation across Denmark. The study specifically seeks to answer the following questions: What initiatives are deployed within the different regions? What are the motivations behind the projects? What technologies are being utilized? What medical disciplines are being supported using telemedicine systems?

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All data were surveyed from the Telemedicinsk Landkort, a newly created database designed to provide a comprehensive and systematic overview of all telemedicine technologies in Denmark.

RESULTS

The results of this study suggest that a growing numbers of telemedicine initiatives are currently in operation across Denmark but that considerable variations exist in terms of regional efforts as the number of operational telemedicine projects varied from region to region.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study provide a timely picture of the factors that are shaping the telemedicine landscape of Denmark and suggest potential strategies to help policymakers increase and improve national telemedicine deployment.

University-Based Teleradiology in the United States

This article reviews the University of Arizona's more than 15 years of experience with teleradiology and provides an overview of university-based teleradiology practice in the United States (U.S.). In the U.S., teleradiology is a major economic enterprise with many private for-profit companies offering national teleradiology services (i.e., professional interpretation of radiologic studies of all types by American Board of Radiology certified radiologists). The initial thrust for teleradiology was for after-hours coverage of radiologic studies, but teleradiology has expanded its venue to include routine full-time or partial coverage for small hospitals, clinics, specialty medical practices, and urgent care centers. It also provides subspecialty radiologic coverage not available at smaller medical centers and clinics. Many U.S. university-based academic departments of radiology provide teleradiology services usually as an additional for-profit business to supplement departmental income. Since academic-based teleradiology providers have to compete in a very demanding marketplace, their success is not guaranteed. They must provide timely, high-quality professional services for a competitive price. Academic practices have the advantage of house officers and fellows who can help with the coverage, and they have excellent subspecialty expertise. The marketplace is constantly shifting, and university-based teleradiology practices have to be nimble and adjust to ever-changing situations.

Factors in the selection of a teleradiology provider in the United States

Commercial teleradiology is well established in the US. There are many factors to consider when engaging a teleradiology provider. One of the basic questions is what do you expect to gain from it? Do you want a final reading from an attending radiologist (known as a consultant radiologist in many countries) or would you be satisfied with a preliminary reading from a teleradiology provider and a final reading from your own in-house radiologist the following day? Do you simply require after-hours coverage or do you need to supplement the coverage provided by your own internal radiologists during normal working hours? Teleradiology is not without its drawbacks. It can add additional costs, particularly for after-hours coverage. Teleradiology rarely provides in-house coverage for procedures, and the interpreting radiologist may sometimes be difficult to contact for consultation. Choosing a teleradiology vendor requires due diligence. When the contracting entity defines its expectations well and chooses its teleradiology vendor with care, the end result will be satisfactory for all concerned, including the patients.

Telemedicine and pediatric radiology: a new environment for training, learning, and interactive discussions

OBJECTIVE

To report the experience of the Brazilian Program of Pediatric Teleradiology in combining teleconferencing and a virtual learning environment for services integration, collaborative research, and continuing education in pediatric radiology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed virtual meetings from March 2005 to October 2010 on pediatric radiology-related themes, using a combination of videoconferences and Web conferences, which were recorded and made available in an open-source software (Moodle) for reuse.

RESULTS

We performed 58 virtual sessions: 29 anatomical-clinical-radiological sessions, 28 on upgrading themes, and 1 virtual symposium. The average of connected points was 12 by videoconference and 39 by Web conference, and of 450 participants per event. At the time of this writing, 318 physicians and students are registered in the virtual learning environment, with a total of 14,678 accesses.

CONCLUSIONS

Telemedicine is being included in pediatric radiology practice, as a means for distance education, training, and continuing integration between groups.

Outsourcing to teleradiology companies: bad for radiology, bad for radiologists

Outsourcing night and weekend call to teleradiology companies has become a common practice among private radiology groups. While this may lead to an easier lifestyle, the authors discuss the serious negative consequences for radiologists and the specialty as a whole. These include the likelihood of commoditization of the field, lowering of fees, displacement from hospital contracts and outpatient reading contracts, greater encroachment by other specialties, and lowering of quality.

Radiology practices' use of external off-hours teleradiology services in 2007 and changes since 2003

OBJECTIVE

Our objective is to report patterns of utilization of external off-hours teleradiology services (EOTSs) in 2007 and changes since 2003.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed non-individually identified data from the American College of Radiology's 2007 Survey of Member Radiologists and its 2003 Survey of Radiologists. Responses were weighted to be nationally representative of individual radiologists and radiology practices. We present descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analysis results on the use of EOTSs in 2007 and comparisons with 2003.

RESULTS

Overall, 44% of all radiology practices in the United States reported using EOTSs in 2007. These practices included 45% of all U.S. radiologists. Out-of-practice teleradiology had been used by 15% of practices in 2003. Regression analysis indicates that, other practice characteristics being equal, in 2007, primarily academic practices had lower odds of using EOTSs than private radiology practices. Also, large practices (>or= 30 radiologists) had lower odds of using EOTSs than practices with 15-29 radiologists. Small practices (1-10 radiologists) had high odds, but nonmetropolitan practices did not. There were no significant differences by geographic region of the United States.

CONCLUSION

Use of EOTSs was widespread by 2007, and it had been increasing rapidly in the preceding few years. Patterns of use were generally as might be expected except that nonmetropolitan practices did not have high odds of using EOTSs.

From shared data to sharing workflow: merging PACS and teleradiology

Due to a host of technological, interface, operational and workflow limitations, teleradiology and PACS/RIS were historically developed as separate systems serving different purposes. PACS/RIS handled local radiology storage and workflow management while teleradiology addressed remote access to images. Today advanced PACS/RIS support complete site radiology workflow for attending physicians, whether on-site or remote. In parallel, teleradiology has emerged into a service of providing remote, off-hours, coverage for emergency radiology and to a lesser extent subspecialty reading to subscribing sites and radiology groups. When attending radiologists use teleradiology for remote access to a site, they may share all relevant patient data and participate in the site's workflow like their on-site peers. The operation gets cumbersome and time consuming when these radiologists serve multi-sites, each requiring a different remote access, or when the sites do not employ the same PACS/RIS/Reporting Systems and do not share the same ownership. The least efficient operation is of teleradiology companies engaged in reading for multiple facilities. As these services typically employ non-local radiologists, they are allowed to share some of the available patient data necessary to provide an emergency report but, by enlarge, they do not share the workflow of the sites they serve. Radiology stakeholders usually prefer to have their own radiologists perform all radiology tasks including interpretation of off-hour examinations. It is possible with current technology to create a system that combines the benefits of local radiology services to multiple sites with the advantages offered by adding subspecialty and off-hours emergency services through teleradiology. Such a system increases efficiency for the radiology groups by enabling all users, regardless of location, to work "local" and fully participate in the workflow of every site. We refer to such a system as SuperPACS.

The impact of globalisation on teleradiology practice

Some advocates of globalisation argue that a free market with little regulation is the best approach for achieving cost-effective healthcare. Healthcare, however, is different from other business activities in that it is typically less profit-driven; instead, it often involves the goal of providing equitable care to the underprivileged. Traditionally, the government has subsidised the expenses of delivering affordable healthcare to underserved communities. Because of the many recent advances in telecommunications technology, telemedicine has gained increasing attention. Teleradiology, in particular, is by far the maturest of all telemedicine disciplines and, thus, it may serve as a pivotal indicator of whether telemedicine on a global scale is feasible or not. In this paper, a prediction of the future landscape of globalised teleradiology operations is attempted based on the extrapolation of the historical trends in teleradiology practice as well as the growing pressure on federal and local governments to reduce their regulatory power under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).