How to Choose a Prospective Teleradiology Service Provider

Imaging studies are crucial for establishing an accurate diagnosis of most illnesses, especially in critically ill patients, in whom a quick diagnosis is warranted. Imaging studies can be accurately interpreted by physicians who are specially trained to do so, known as radiologists. The absence of on-site radiologists can thus lead to delays in diagnosis and timely patient management. This can be especially critical for clinicians to manage patients during emergencies and the night hours. To bridge this gap, many healthcare companies provide teleradiology services. In this process, the patient's medical image is electronically transmitted to a radiologist in real-time present at another geographical location for accurate interpretation of the same. This allows quick, accurate and timely patient management without the need for the round-the-clock presence of a radiologist in the hospital. 

There has been a rapid and steady growth of teleradiology companies in India over the recent past, owing to the limited number of radiologist specialists available in our country as compared to the demand in the field. Teleradiology services have allowed better patient management, especially in rural India, who do not have direct access to good radiological services or experienced radiologists with sub-speciality expertise. Teleradiology has also paved the path for obtaining a second opinion from an experienced radiologist in a difficult case with just a click of the mouse, without the need to physically travel to the expert. This in turn improves patient management, reduces indirect expenses and saves the patient the trouble of travelling. 

Things to consider while Choosing a Prospective Teleradiology Service Provider

If you are planning to tie up with a teleradiology company for providing better patient service and expand your growth, there are a few things that you need to carefully consider before choosing one.

Understanding service offerings and customer support

One of the foremost factors to consider while choosing a teleradiology service provider is to carefully analyze their service offerings including full-time coverage, emergency services, nighthawk services, subspecialty reporting and customer support in the form of radiology staff and technician training to support your service offerings optimally. 

Company’s reputation and brand name in the market, regulatory compliance

The next important thing to consider is the company's qualifications, credentials, reputation and brand name in the market and the regulatory compliance they adhere to. Ideally, a company with several years of experience in providing such services should be the choice. Researching other customer reviews or available testimonials about the company can also help to understand their service quality and issues. 

Teleradiologist expertise

The quality of teleradiology service is directly related to the expertise of the radiologist team. A company with highly trained radiologists with several years of experience and subspecialty expertise and constantly up to date with newer technologies and techniques are likely to provide an accurate and timely diagnosis as compared to a company with less experienced radiologists.

Clinician communication

The quality of patient service can be improved significantly when the treating physician and the radiologist share a rapport and work in sync as a team. Choosing a teleradiology service provider where radiologists are available for discussions on patient reports improves the clinician's confidence in the treatment course and successful patient management.

Quality standards

The importance of quality can never be undermined when it comes to diagnostic radiology as it is the first step in guiding appropriate patient management and recovery. It is thus important to make sure that the teleradiology service providers abide by principles of patient care, safety and report accuracy while providing patient reports. Make sure the company abides by all the latest industry regulations, reporting standards and checklists to meet your needs. 

Technology platform

A company which invests in the latest tools and technologies with advanced security features is more likely to provide seamless communication between the treating physician and radiologists, allowing easy access to medical imaging data while protecting sensitive patient data from unauthorized access. A reliable and safe cloud-based technology with 24/7 technical support assistance is a key determining factor for successful teleradiology service.

Report delivery turnaround time

Turnaround time for patient report impacts the quality of patient service. While selecting a company, look for industry standards, best practices and whether the vendor meets your expectations for report delivery.

Cost

Analyzing the cost and payment structure of the service provider is important to plan your finances and calculate your expenses. Prices of teleradiology services vary depending on various factors such as geographical location, number of radiologists needed, complexity of cases and speed of delivery