Fulfilling the Vision
As radiologists we are accustomed to change—change in the modalities we have to diagnose and treat our patients, change in the technology we use, and change in radiology's role in today's increasingly complex health care environment.
Now with inappropriate utilization of imaging we face our latest—and perhaps most significant—professional challenge, a challenge that will require each of us to do our part to ensure radiology's survival. During the College's recent Annual Meeting and Chapter Leadership Conference, radiology's leaders came together and approved a resolution calling for advocacy for high-quality, appropriate, and ethical medical imaging and radiation therapy.
Was the support of the resolution unanimous? Of course not. We are an association of more than 30,000 individuals, each with different desires, responsibilities, and goals. However, after a session of thought-provoking debate we set aside our individual differences and endorsed a compromise that addresses the most important group of all—our patients. This compromise would not only ensure that our patients undergo medical imaging by only those recognized for their excellent credentials, but it guarantees our professional relevance.
The concept of this resolution would require physicians to meet a well-defined set of criteria, such as facility certification and accreditation, physics surveys, a registry for technologists, and set numbers of modalities per practice. Moreover, qualifying interpreters would need to demonstrate CME hours, board certification, and a required number of exams performed each year.
This proposal was not made in haste, and it is not a knee-jerk reaction to evident encroachments on our profession by other specialists. In fact, not only was it exhaustively debated among the ACR's leadership, but it was the focus of a special chapter leaders meeting in Chicago in February where it received a strong endorsement. The Board of Chancellors and the Council Steering Committee chose to bring it to the full College leadership in the form of a resolution, offering everyone the opportunity to evaluate the idea on its own merits and express their opinions.
Will this concept require us to assess our practices and possibly change the way we practice radiology? That answer is a blunt "yes." Some of us will become frustrated with the loss of imaging opportunities and potential increases in bureaucracy with the concepts endorsed in this resolution. I'm sure I'll be frustrated at times myself because I am a practicing radiologist just like each of you. I take night calls and slug it out in the reading room while others attempt to claim imaging as their own solely for financial reasons.
However, our professional responsibility lies in what is best for our patients and for our profession, not what is most convenient for us as individuals. We must focus on the external forces that adversely affect our patients and our profession rather than on internal granular differences of opinion that sap our strength and monopolize our time.
Yes, we could step back from the issue, tell ourselves that radiology is doing just fine, and simply adhere to the status quo. However, I assure you that is the worst decision we could make. Radiology is about change and we must embrace that change with energy and enthusiasm. We must change to ensure quality patient care and a profession that is strong and rewarding for those who will follow us in this field.
My goal for radiology is that we not merely survive, but thrive and, through our efforts, provide a distinctive model of health care for future leaders of radiology and, indeed, for all of medicine. Our patients depend upon our skills, our integrity, our leadership, and our vision. We must move forward, because our vision for the future is molded by the challenges of the present and our successes of the past.
Together we can fulfill that vision, not as individuals, but as a profession.