The impact of teleradiology in the United States over the last decade: driving consolidation and commoditization of radiologists and radiology services.

摘要

Ten years ago in this Journal, I wrote a review on the current state of teleradiology as it was then and outlined its implications for clinical care and rationalization of radiology services. At that time, most believed it could be a vehicle for improving patient care, but few foresaw the threat it has become to radiologists and radiology services, particularly in the US. Much has changed since then, and now teleradiology, by effectively increasing radiologist supply, threatens to commo-ditize the radiology profession and radically change the way radiology is practiced. This article will discuss the evolution of teleradiology over the last decade and how it is rapidly changing the outlook for radiologists and provision of radiology services in the US.