title: Outsourcing to teleradiology companies: bad for radiology, bad for radiologists.
abstract: Outsourcing night and weekend call to teleradiology companies has become a common practice among private radiology groups. While this may lead to an easier lifestyle, the authors discuss the serious negative consequences for radiologists and the specialty as a whole. These include the likelihood of commoditization of the field, lowering of fees, displacement from hospital contracts and outpatient reading contracts, greater encroachment by other specialties, and lowering of quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA. david.levin@jeffersonhospital.org
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Vijay M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D020416:Outsourced Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011871:Radiology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States