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Radiologists weigh in on outsourcing of imaging work

The specialty group recommends that doctors working outside the country maintain the same licensing and credentialing standards as those within the United States.

By Tyler Chin, AMNews staff. June 14, 2004.

The American College of Radiology has acted to protect patient safety by approving guidelines on the practice of "offshore" interpretation of radiological images.

Under the guidelines, which are voluntary, ACR recommends that radiologists outside of the United States who interpret images should meet, exceed or be held to the same standards as their U.S. counterparts.

Those standards call for offshore radiologists to be licensed in the state where the image was originally obtained; be credentialed and maintain privileges at the health care facility where the image was obtained; have appropriate liability insurance for the state where the exam was obtained; and be responsible for the quality of the images being interpreted.

"We feel there should be some significant qualifications for the person overseas who is receiving these images for interpretation," said E. Stephen Amis Jr., MD, a radiologist in New York who is chair of ACR's board of chancellors.

Radiologists who can meet the criteria would include those who are members of innovative practice groups that send their own physicians abroad to take advantage of the time difference when providing after-hours coverage to hospital emergency departments, Dr. Amis said.

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