Interesting Article on Radiology Outsourcing In LA times

Borders Fall for These Doctors
Physicians, primarily radiologists, are getting swift diagnostic aid from distant time zones. The trend is likely to grow, but it has its critics.

Full Story Here-LA Times

"Some doctors say such services relieve the strain on radiologists in this country, who are in short supply as demand climbs in emergency rooms nationwide. Specialists stationed in time zones hours ahead of the United States have the benefit of working regular day shifts."If you are up all night doing this work, then essentially you're useless the next day," said Dr. Sanjay Saini, chairman of Emory University School of Medicine's radiology department in Atlanta. However, the estimated $65 per case that the hospital pays NightHawk is "much, much less" than it would cost to pay U.S.-based radiologists at those hours, he added.Nighttime aid also allows solo practitioners like Dr. Michael Fischer at Monterey Park Hospital to provide coverage more easily. Fischer usually has cases sent to NightHawk for preliminary readings after 11 p.m. and sometimes on weekends, depending on how busy he is. He then reviews and does final dictations on each case in the morning. Some doctors say these international services are a dangerous expansion of the outsourcing trend — with the potential to compromise the quality of patient care. They question the feasibility of tracking doctors and the quality of their work, and whether they can be brought to task if they make mistakes."