Teleradiology as a service provides an opportunity to partner with diagnostic centers, individual radiologists, hospitals and other medical groups in need of remote reading of diagnostic imaging studies like CT Scan, MRI, Mammography and X-rays with online Teleradiology as a Service (TAAS) model. It means that you can offer a fee based service for each modality. If the facility need certain modalities that you need read, the facility can do so by contacting teleradiology providers like Advanced Telemed Services.
What is Teleradiology?
Teleradiology is a practice of radiologists providing imaging services to hospitals, imaging centers, urgent care clinics and more looking out for 24×7 teleradiology support. Historically teleradiology started in the late 90’s. Teleradiology is offered on pay per read model and is considerably cheaper as compared to regular in hour radiology set up. These services are available all around the clock and night time teleradiology is important for critical care of the patients.
Patient care is improved by teleradiology by making it possible for radiologists to provide their services without needing to be in the same location as the patient. That is especially important whenever a sub-specialist like a musculoskeletal radiologist, pediatric radiologist, neuroradiologist or MRI radiologist is needed, given that usually these professionals work in large metropolitan areas during day hours. However, teleradiology makes it possible to have access to trained specialists on a 24/7 basis. Subspecialty service is offered at a fee for service.
Till these times, teleradiology was only used in case of emergencies but in these times of covid-19, teleradiology has become a way of life. It is helping the providers maintain a social distance and also serve the remote areas where there is critical need of radiology services. With the recent technology updates and AI intervening the domain of radiology, these developments have come to stay and make radiology a way of life going forward. It is a significant medical practice which is going to grow in leaps and bounds in near future. Teleradiology also allows doctor to connect with experienced doctors in case of complicated cases and technology has made it feasible.
Teleradiology is a blessing for smaller hospitals, mobile clinics and hospitals in remote and rural areas. It provides an opportunity for the hospitals to connect to specialist radiologists in critical times.
Teleradiology allows the trained radiologists unite together and make discoveries in the domain of teleradiology. Teleradiology speeds up the processes and provides solutions on the fly. Teleradiology is highly dependent on technology and the radiologists need to upgrade themselves with the technology used in treatment and diagnosis.
History of Teleradiology
Teleradiology is half a century old and is growing since then. In the olden times the radiology communication was carried out on telephone and there has been a linear growth since then. Television and closed circuit were used in capturing x-rays and providing distant radiology services. This was not offering high resolution image transfer and low quality services. With the advent of technology in the telehealth domain, healthcare has evolved to a providing greater precision services and on the go teleradiology. From recording the radiology report on cassette tape, on paper report, it has digitized the entire teleradiology communication in the recent years.
Standardization with ACR/NEMA has defined processes for teleradiology which needs to be adhered to by all organizations in the teleradiology space. The first teleradiolgoy standard was published by American College of Radiology in 1994. ACR recognition is important for the practice of teleradiology. Various teleradiology companies were established in 1990s and have indeed become successful. Radlinx, Nighthawk,vRad, Advanced Telemed Services to name a few. These companies hired radiologists from Europe and Australia to provide night time teleradiology services in order to bridge the gaps of time zones as they are about half a day apart and can provide graveyard shifts for radiologists in USA.
In recent years several teleradiology companies are getting bought by bigger giants as the demand for teleradiology has increased considerably in the recent years. Also, teleradiologists have set up a work from home segment wherein they have all the technology and tools especially the dark room to read the radiology reports. This not only provides services 24×7 but also makes it more viable and affordable.
The competition in the segment has also grown over time and this allows the providers to be highly competitive in their rates they offer for radiology services. This goes in favor of the patients who get quality healthcare at affordable pricing.
Advantages of Teleradiology:
a.) Staying Competitive
b.) Upgrade Technology
c.) Attract patients with ease
d.) Virtual assistance in times of need.
How to offer Best Teleradiology Services as Providers
Choose a Virtual Care Platform
You can subscribe to virtual teleradiology platforms that allows you to function without any glitch. Most of the times the companies that you associate with will provide you one.
Enhance your Existing Patient Workflows
You can shift your patient workflow to the virtual care system. The robust software will take care of all the reporting and also save patients information and reports as a backup.
Upgrade Technology
You can upgrade to newer systems and technology to offer best of services in the segment of teleradiology through Advanced Telemed Services’s PACS and RIS system . Upgrading yourself to newer technology in the segment of IT can help you provide services on the fly.
HIPAA Compliant Software
Make sure the software you use is HIPAA compliant and abides by the security and privacy norms for the patients. Advanced Telemed Services offers a HIPAA compliant PACS system.
Deliver Value
Deliver value in all your services be it reading, reporting or technical support.
In case if you are looking for teleradiology services and looking for a pay per service model for teleradiology with subspecialty radiologists, contact us at www.advancedtelemedservices.com today!