Choosing the right teleradiology platform is one of the most crucial decisions any diagnostic establishment can make. With so many different teleradiology systems to choose from, selecting a sound system becomes even more difficult. Teleradiology service platforms are becoming an accepted part of the image-reading landscape in India and across the world. According to a report published by IMARC Group, the India teleradiology market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.60% during 2022-2027.
Although the relationship between teleradiology companies and hospitals has changed over time, teleradiology is now a beneficial service for many institutions. As of today, about 70% of radiology groups use a third-party teleradiology service. With several platforms offering such services, how can you ensure that your referring physicians don’t receive lower-quality readings for reasons like late-night scans?
The use of a teleradiology service should be carefully considered, not just evaluated on a cost-per-procedure scale. The service should be viewed as an extension of the practice, allowing referring physicians to contact the radiologists even at late night the same way they can get one during regular business hours.
Therefore, it is essential to consider 5 main factors when choosing a teleradiology platform.
1. Quality reports
When looking to outsource radiology reports, you should be able to maintain quality. Finding a teleradiology platform that can guarantee high-quality reports by experienced radiologists should be at the top of your checklist. When it comes to radiology outsourcing, it is crucial to find a teleradiology provider that offers high-quality images and reports from highly trained radiologists with years of experience.
In today’s healthcare environment, cost containment is a top priority for many practices. Teleradiology services allow you to gain access to a large pool of knowledgeable radiologists who can provide diagnostic reports at a competitive price compared to hiring local radiologists or traveling out of state. By outsourcing this service, you can save yourself time while improving patient satisfaction.
2. Quick TATs with efficient workflow management
The workflow of your teleradiology service provider should be clear and well-established, so it is easy for you to follow the trail of your studies as they make their way to radiologists. An elaborate routing scheme can get messy and increase turnaround times. A well-structured teleradiology provider will have workflow coordinators to assign studies to radiologists and connect them with referring physicians for better healthcare outcomes. Streamlined workflows allow quicker TATs, more accessible avenues to speak with radiologists, and assurance that every case is completed and sent back to your healthcare facility.
3. Error rate and quality control process
The quality control process is an integral part of the data collection process. The quality control process identifies any errors within the data and corrects them so that no mistakes are made in the final reports. This ensures that all reports are accurate and comprehensive.
The Outbound Quality Control process is responsible for ensuring that reports are accurate and comprehensive. It eliminates redundancy in reports and ensures that reports are complete and have all the required information. Inbound Quality Control ensures that scans are of optimal quality, adequate in number, and complete for ease of reporting. In addition, this process maintains the overall quality of the scans by identifying inconsistencies in the data and resolving them.
4. Scalability and space for growth
Teleradiology is a rapidly growing industry, as more and more patients are requesting teleradiology services. The number of teleradiology providers has increased by over 200% in the past year alone.
If you are considering adding teleradiology to your practice, it is important to find a world-class platform that can meet and exceed your needs.
The most important thing to consider when selecting a teleradiology provider is their flexibility. You want to avoid getting caught in a contract that could stunt growth. By ensuring your teleradiology provider can scale its services as your scan volume increases, you will save yourself the headache down the road. Flexibility from your teleradiology provider aids and encourages growth and guarantees that they are a partner for the long haul. Even better, by providing subspecialty reads, your teleradiology provider can be a catalyst to growth by opening doors to diverse imaging opportunities.
5. Data security
Radiology is a highly regulated industry, and with the advent of new technologies, it’s becoming even more critical for radiologists to share sensitive images securely.
While there are many benefits to teleradiology, healthcare facilities need to ensure that patient information is being transported securely. This includes protecting patient names, social security numbers and other personal data.
In addition to protecting patient information, it’s important that your teleradiology provider has a resilient platform that can withstand unexpected downtime or cyber-attacks. If the internet is down or there’s an issue with their servers, will patients still be able to get their test results? When issues arise, having a reliable IT department will help ensure medical professionals have access to necessary information when needed most.
Dive Into Teleradiology with Prodigi
With all of the information about teleradiology providers now available, it should be easier for you to find a provider most suited for your needs. Finding one that fits your practice operations, financial goals, and imaging protocols is an important step in ensuring quality care for your patients. Keeping these factors in mind should help you make an informed decision that will last for years.
Using Teleradiology services along with the right processes can help lower costs, reduce the need for more radiologists, and give the healthcare team a fabulous array of tools to diagnose conditions without delay. If you are interested in learning how you can implement this technology in your practice and benefit from it, we can help.
Contact us for more information at communication@5cnetwork.com.
