title: Characteristics of radiology groups and of diagnostic radiologists and radiation oncologists in different types of practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the characteristics of U.S. radiology groups and of radiologists in different types of practices in 1995.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was distributed to 3,024 radiologists; the response rate was 75%. Responses were weighted to represent all U.S. groups or radiologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 3,285 groups; 340 were academic, and 356 were multispecialty. Fifty percent of groups had two to four members; 39% of radiologists were in groups with fewer than eight members, and 8% were solo practitioners. Seventy percent of all radiologists were in practices owned entirely by physicians in the practice, and 80% of these were themselves owners. Eight percent of radiologists were in government-owned practices, and 15% (primarily academic) were in privately-owned practices in which all physicians were employees. Sixty-nine percent of academic diagnostic radiologists worked primarily in one field, but this was true of only 22% of those in nonacademic groups. Solo diagnostic practitioners also typically had a broad practice but excluded high-cost modalities. Radiologists in nonacademic groups averaged more vacation days (30 d/yr) than academic (19 d/yr) or solo (12 d/yr) practitioners. Solo and locum tenens practitioners were relatively old; academic radiologists, relatively young.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through 1995, average group size has grown slowly. There are important differences among practice types, especially between academic and nonacademic practices.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, American College of Radiology, Reston, VA 20191-4397, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sunshine
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kunkle
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Shaffer
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006123:Group Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006693:Holidays / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010067:Ownership / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011859:Radiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013675:Technology, High-Cost / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology