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Low-Volume and High-Volume Readers of Neurological and Musculoskeletal MRI: Achieving Subspecialization in Radiology.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Trinh, B; Calabrese, E; Vu, T; Forman, HP; Haas, BM
Published in: J Am Coll Radiol
February 2020

OBJECTIVE: Differentiate high- versus low-volume radiologists who interpret neurological (Neuro) MRI or musculoskeletal (MSK) MRI and measure the proportion of Neuro and MSK MRIs read by low-volume radiologists. METHODS: We queried the 2015 Medicare Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File for radiologists who submitted claims for Neuro or MSK MRIs. Radiologists were classified as high-volume versus low-volume based on their work relative value units (wRVUs) focus or volume of studies interpreted using three different methodologies: Method 1, percentage of wRVUs in Neuro or MSK MRI; Method 2, absolute number of Neuro or MSK MRIs interpreted; and Method 3, both percentage and absolute number. Multiple thresholds with each methodology were tested, and the percentage of Neuro or MSK MRIs interpreted by low-volume radiologists was calculated for each threshold. RESULTS: With Method 1, 33% of Neuro MRI and 50% of MSK MRI studies were interpreted by a radiologist whose wRVUs in Neuro or MSK MRI were less than 20% (Method 1). With Method 2, 22% of Neuro MRIs and 37% of MSK MRIs were interpreted by radiologists who read fewer than the mean number of Neuro or MSK MRIs interpreted by an "average full-time radiologist" whose wRVUs in Neuro or MSK MRI were approximately 20%. With Method 3, 38% of Neuro MRIs and 57% of MSK MRIs were interpreted by "low-volume" radiologists. If instead a 50% wRVU threshold is used for Methods One, Two, and Three, then 70%, 58%, and 77% of Neuro MRIs and 86%, 80%, and 90% of MSK MRIs are read by low-volume radiologists. DISCUSSION: A large number of radiologists read a low volume of Neuro or MSK MRIs; these low-volume Neuro or MSK MRI radiologists read a substantial portion of Neuro or MSK MRIs. It is unknown which of the methods for distinguishing low-volume radiologists, combined with which threshold, may best correlate with high-performing or low-performing radiologists.

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Published In

J Am Coll Radiol

DOI

EISSN

1558-349X

Publication Date

February 2020

Volume

17

Issue

2

Start / End Page

314 / 322

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Radiology
  • Radiologists
  • Radiography
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Medicare
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Aged
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Trinh, B., Calabrese, E., Vu, T., Forman, H. P., & Haas, B. M. (2020). Low-Volume and High-Volume Readers of Neurological and Musculoskeletal MRI: Achieving Subspecialization in Radiology. J Am Coll Radiol, 17(2), 314–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2019.10.006
Trinh, Brian, Evan Calabrese, Thienkhai Vu, Howard P. Forman, and Brian M. Haas. “Low-Volume and High-Volume Readers of Neurological and Musculoskeletal MRI: Achieving Subspecialization in Radiology.J Am Coll Radiol 17, no. 2 (February 2020): 314–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2019.10.006.
Trinh B, Calabrese E, Vu T, Forman HP, Haas BM. Low-Volume and High-Volume Readers of Neurological and Musculoskeletal MRI: Achieving Subspecialization in Radiology. J Am Coll Radiol. 2020 Feb;17(2):314–22.
Trinh, Brian, et al. “Low-Volume and High-Volume Readers of Neurological and Musculoskeletal MRI: Achieving Subspecialization in Radiology.J Am Coll Radiol, vol. 17, no. 2, Feb. 2020, pp. 314–22. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2019.10.006.
Trinh B, Calabrese E, Vu T, Forman HP, Haas BM. Low-Volume and High-Volume Readers of Neurological and Musculoskeletal MRI: Achieving Subspecialization in Radiology. J Am Coll Radiol. 2020 Feb;17(2):314–322.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Coll Radiol

DOI

EISSN

1558-349X

Publication Date

February 2020

Volume

17

Issue

2

Start / End Page

314 / 322

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Radiology
  • Radiologists
  • Radiography
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Medicare
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Aged
  • 3202 Clinical sciences