Teleradiology is a term that refers to the transmission of medical patient images that have been electronically digitized. Radiology is a particular type of imaging technique that physicians use to take images of internal parts of the body. Examples of radiology are ultrasounds, x-rays, and CTs. With teleradiology, a radiologist can interpret medical images without having to be physically present in the location the images are generated. As with other forms of telemedicine, teleradiology has many benefits to executives, medical professionals, and patients.
A Brief History of Teleradiology
Today, teleradiology is used in a variety of different forms and channels, including image storage, cloud sharing, and special teleradiology software. Doctors and hospitals are able to share crucial information, such as requests for access to patient health information, consent forms, exam forms, patient invoicing, appointment booking, and more.
Teleradiology has helped to shape the telemedicine industry as a whole for over half a century. It was all the way back in the 18th century that the telegraph was created to transmit messages over a wire, and the concept has only been growing since then. An underwater radiotelephone was used in the 1930s for specific medical consultation by an ocean liner called the Queen Mary. A doctor on board the ship would provide information to an external source for consultation via the radio telephone and then provide service to individuals passengers.
The 1960s and 1970s saw even more innovation and research with television and closed-circuit x-ray broadcasting techniques. At the start, it was a slow process because you could only share one picture at a time, and the image wasn’t of particularly high quality. This made it challenging, if not impossible, for widespread use in hospitals, but it was a great starting point for the way things are today.
A Range of Exciting Benefits
Teleradiology is far more than a convenient, new-age medical tool. It can help the medical establishment in a variety of different ways, with the ultimate benefit being safer and more complete care for patients. That’s always the end goal, and with teleradiology, you can feel confident that you’ll be doing right by your patients and helping to save lives. Here are some of the exciting benefits that teleradiology offers:
Faster Diagnostics
Speed and efficiency are aspects of medicine that can be elusive, but with teleradiology, faster diagnostics are virtually guaranteed. When you can view medical imaging results almost instantaneously, a diagnosis can be made, and treatment protocol started much faster than doing things in the conventional way.
More Accurate Diagnoses
Since experienced and highly trained radiologists can view mobile imaging, lifesaving discoveries and diagnoses can be made that may not have been otherwise. More accurate diagnoses provide better outcomes for patients, and greater peace of mind for healthcare professionals, executives, and administrators.
More Efficient Consultation & Collaboration
Teleradiology offers the opportunity for consultation and collaboration that never used to be possible. It’s easy to get in touch with other radiologists and get second opinions without having to transfer the patient or schedule in-person appointments. For more challenging cases, several doctors can collaborate to reach a consensus and prescribe the appropriate treatment protocol. In some cases, consultation and collaboration through teleradiology may be a first opinion if the patient is in a location where there is no radiologist available.
Cost-Effectiveness
Typically, a radiologist will have to travel to where an image was captured in order to decipher the results. With teleradiology, radiologists can work from just about any remote location, which will save money by not having to employ a full-time, in-house radiologist and by saving on travel costs for doctors and patients.
Radiologists Always Available
It’s not uncommon for hospitals and medical facilities to have shortages in radiology staff, especially overnight or during holidays. When you use teleradiology, the radiologist doesn’t have to be present in person and can view and interpret images from remote locations. This allows you to always have radiologists available when needed without having to worry about any staff shortages.
Educational Opportunities
The ability to consult and collaborate through teleradiology creates a valuable teaching tool for younger physicians and radiologists. It enables experts from around the world to create presentations that will help expand the knowledge base of others who may not otherwise have access to their expertise.
Improved Care for Rural Areas
It’s no secret that many patients in rural areas have challenges when it comes to getting the medical attention they need. With teleradiology, rural hospitals can send mobile imaging to other hospitals to get a fast and accurate interpretation of the results. This helps the patient get the diagnosis they need, so treatment can be started sooner while also reducing the stress of having to wait and the expense of having to travel far distances.
Round-the-Clock Coverage
With teleradiology, you are no longer constrained by regular office hours. It’s possible to provide emergency after-hour service, as well as service on weekends, holidays, or any other time it’s needed. This versatility helps create trust between healthcare facilities and patients and provides patients with better overall service, which is the ultimate goal.
Who Uses Teleradiology Services?
Teleradiology services can be used by just about any type of medical facility that wants to expand its range of services, increase the level of healthcare, and boost patient satisfaction rates. Some of the most common users of teleradiology include:
- Hospitals, both urban and rural
- Emergency care facilities
- Mobile imaging facilities
- Remote er services
- Private practices
Teleradiology through Specialist Direct
At Specialist Direct, we have access to a whole network of Board-Certified radiologists all across the United States. We can provide interpretations of a range of radiology studies that include CT, x-rays, and ultrasounds. We use a cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant platform that can be customized and configured specifically for our clients. If you’d like to learn more about our teleradiology services and what we can do for you, get in touch with us today for a same-day reply.