A comprehensive portrait of teleradiology in radiology practices: results from the American College of Radiology's 1999 Survey.
OBJECTIVE
This article presents a comprehensive portrait of the characteristics of teleradiology systems of radiology practices as of 1999. Our purposes are to help profile a rapidly evolving area of radiology that has been underexamined to date and to provide a baseline with which future findings can be compared.


METHODS
In 1999, the American College of Radiology surveyed 970 practices by mail. A response rate of 66% was achieved. Responses were weighted to represent all radiology practices in the United States. Data from nine questions specifically designed to profile the use of teleradiology were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and multivariate regression analyses.


RESULTS
Seventy-one percent of multiradiologist practices had teleradiology systems in place, using them to interpret 5% of their studies. For solo practices, corresponding statistics were 30% and 14%. Ninety-two percent of multiradiologist practices with teleradiology systems used them for preliminary on-call interpretation. Other major uses included consultation with other radiologists (20%) and primary interpretation of studies (18%). Ninety-five percent of multiradiologist practices with teleradiology systems used them to interpret CT, 84% used them for sonography, 69% for nuclear medicine, 47% for MRI, and 43% for conventional radiographs.


CONCLUSIONS
Teleradiology had already become a fixture in most practices by 1999, though it was used for only a small fraction of image interpretations. Its widespread presence positioned teleradiology to become a key element of radiology practice nationwide.
Larson
David B
DB
Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA.
Cypel
Yasmin S
YS
Forman
Howard P
HP
Sunshine
Jonathan H
JH
D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006123:Group Practice; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011331:Private Practice; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019112:Teleradiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States