title: Radiology Education of Physician Extenders: What Role Should Radiologists Play?
abstract: As physician extenders (PEs) enter the medical community in large numbers, they have an increasing impact on imaging utilization and imaging-based procedures. Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) have an advanced level of education and some practice autonomously. However, PA and NP programs are not required to provide any basic radiology education. For PEs who did receive basic radiology education during their graduate program, the curriculum is nonstandard and there is a wide variation. PEs working in primary care and nonradiology specialties place imaging orders, review report findings, and answer patient questions. Other PEs working within radiology practices operate as liaisons with patients in diagnostic radiology or perform an increasing number of interventional procedures. Basic radiology education in formal PE certificate programs as well as on-the-job education about radiology may benefit patients, radiologists, and the health-care system. What role, if any, should the radiologist assume for educating PE students and practicing PAs and NPs? This review analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of radiologists educating PEs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: RiChard
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 676 N St. Clair St, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: Benjamin P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 676 N St. Clair St, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Casalino
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 676 N St. Clair St, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 676 N St. Clair St, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611. Electronic address: j-horowitz@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Horowitz
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D010819:Physician's Role; D000072177:Radiologists / Q000193:education*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*
keywords: Physician extenders; diagnostic imaging; education