Can academic radiology departments become more efficient and cost less?
OBJECTIVE
To determine how successful two large academic radiology departments have been in responding to market-driven pressures to reduce costs and improve productivity by downsizing their technical and support staffs while maintaining or increasing volume.


METHODS
A longitudinal study was performed in which benchmarking techniques were used to assess the changes in cost and productivity of the two departments for 5 years (fiscal years 1992-1996). Cost per relative value unit and relative value units per full-time equivalent employee were tracked.


RESULTS
Substantial cost reduction and productivity enhancement were realized as linear improvements in two key metrics, namely, cost per relative value unit (decline of 19.0% [decline of $7.60 on a base year cost of $40.00] to 28.8% [$12.18 of $42.21]; P < or = .001) and relative value unit per full-time equivalent employee (increase of 46.0% [increase of 759.55 units over a base year productivity of 1,651.45 units] to 55.8% [968.28 of 1,733.97 units]; P < .001), during the 5 years of study.


CONCLUSIONS
Academic radiology departments have proved that they can "do more with less" over a sustained period.
Seltzer
S E
SE
Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Partners HealthCare, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Saini
S
S
Bramson
R T
RT
Kelly
P
P
Levine
L
L
Chiango
B F
BF
Jordan
P
P
Seth
A
A
Elton
J
J
Elrick
J
J
Rosenthal
D
D
Holman
B L
BL
Thrall
J H
JH
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019985:Benchmarking; D001900:Boston; D003363:Cost Control; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004526:Efficiency; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*