How to to Select a World-Class TeleRadiology Provider !

Teleradiology service companies have become an integral part of the image-reading landscape in the United States. Teleradiology technology is not difficult to implement and is cost-effective, utilizing technology to gain information within 30 minutes to 24 hours.

Here are the best tips to choose a best teleradiology provider:

Peer review process: The teleradiology company should actively participate in a peer review process such as RadPeer, administered by the American College of Radiology. The teleradiology company should have policies and procedures in place to notify you of any clinically relevant discrepancies or changes in the report content.

Reputation of the teleradiology group. Before you agree to a service contract, interview current clients including other physicians, practice managers and MRI technologists to learn what others think about the service they receive. Ask their MRI technologists if the radiologists are accessible for questions or suggestions on scanning protocols. Finally, ask if the client sees the teleradiology group as an asset.


Availability: Check out the hours of operation for the radiology center. Many times these exams take 1-2 hours to complete and people tend to schedule the tests before or after work. Some radiology clinics may offer weekend hours to accommodate your schedule.

Accuracy: It’s important to select a provider that’s capable of exceeding outdated standards for accuracy. Reports must be transcribed to the highest level of quality and standards. So choose a Teleradiology service provider that can provide you with professional, error-free transcripts.

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Latest technologies : You must use the teleradiology service provider which  make every effort to integrate the latest technologies to provide your practices with the tools and applications to provide quick and accurate results.

Turnaround time: Although many teleradiology providers tout fast turnaround times, it’s important to review reports that verify the average turnaround time.Some  teleradiology provider also provide  the option for clients to  track turnaround time with some Online Client Portal, which provides completely transparent reporting on turnaround times.

Telehealth and Teleradiology Services

Hospitals are struggling to meet an increasing demand of accurate diagnostic interpretations and a growing shortage of radiologists. To overcome all these we need to use technology that helps us to expand Access to Care, improves Quality of Care and reduces the Cost of Care.

What Is Telemedicine and Teleradiology?

Telemedicine, a sub-segment of Telehealth is defined as the use of electronic information and telecommunication systems to deliver health care related services where patients, healthcare providers and other care coordinators are separated by distance. Telehealth technology facilitates timely transmission of reports between care providers, patient and care administrators and results in improved quality of care.

Through the use of teleradiology services, the expertise of a board certified subspecialty radiologist may be brought to an area where there may be critical shortages of radiologists. Patients in remote locations may no longer be at a disadvantage because they live in areas with a physician shortage throught telemedicine solutions such as teleradiology services. 

Modes for Delivering Telehealth:

Real-time (synchronous): Telehealth relies on telecommunication links that allow interactions via telephones, mobile devices, video conferencing, email and other technology driven means of communication. The immediate interactions facilitate consultations between physicians and patients, meetings between healthcare providers to confer on specified patient care and provide well-timed feedback to patients, and managing healthcare staff.

Store & Forward or (asynchronous): Telehealth captures (stored) digital images, video, audio and clinical data on a computer and transmits the information (forwarded) through secure means to an alternative location where they are reviewed by a specialist and transmitted back with an opinion, additional questions and next steps.

Remote monitoring is a combination of store and forward as well as real-time applications. It is used in care management to improve patient outcomes. Active monitoring of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure helps in reducing the incidence of relapse. A patient’s vital signs and predetermined health measures are consistently, reliably and accurately monitored from a distant location (e.g. blood pressure heart rate, weight etc.) by a healthcare professional who communicates with the patient in the event that there is an escalation in symptoms that require immediate action.

Teleradiology- how it works?

Outcomes of Telehealth and Teleradiology:

Telehealth can be thought of as the intersection between the information highway and healthcare delivery. By integrating technology such as telephony, broadband connectivity, internet, WIFI and video conferencing, any organization or community can provide the necessary medical care to its population. Technology is the enabler by which patients can receive rapid, thorough care through consultation between a local practitioner and a remote specialist such as a cardiologist or dermatologist as examples. Technology can also enable the care coordination of chronically ill patients or those who are discharged following surgical events. 

Telehealth can improve healthcare outcomes and overcome the shortage of physicians across the U.S. and globally. This model can be both cost effective and sustainable. Telehealth can facilitate reduced re-admission rates to hospitals while minimizing the frequency of Emergencey Department visits. Telehealth solutions can also support Accountable Care Organizations and Meaningful Use criteria.

Telehealth is viewed as the next generation of cost effective, patient centered care coordination. This is due to the reduction in costs for patient transportation and transfer fees while allowing patients to seek treatments within their own communities surrounded by family and friends. Local hospitals, clinics and physician practices also benefit as they maintain their patients locally thus retaining their employees and services therefore sustaining the local community.

The quality of care is also improved since professional and patient education is improved while communication techniques and efficiency are enhanced timely. 

Data gathered from the teleradiology services supports positive outcomes in chronic disease management, reduction in hospital re-admissions and the facilitation for aging in place and general expansion of access to care. As physician and specialist shortages continue to stress the system the implementation of Telehealth is unavoidable.