Teleradiology and MRI

What is teleradiology?

Teleradiology is the point-to-point communication of radiological images for the purposes of primary reporting or specialist advice. Increasingly, hospitals throughout the UK are using local and national data networks to facilitate image transfer using teleradiology.

What are the advantages of a teleradiology reporting service?

• Manpower: There is a national shortage of radiologists, particularly in District General Hospitals (DGHs), and especially with training and expertise in areas such as cross-sectional imaging. Teleradiology offers the opportunity to access radiological services provided by radiologists in distant reporting centres.
• Reduced waiting times: In some centres, expensive imaging equipment lies idle, purely because of a shortage of local radiologists to report scans. This is often a particular problem for complex imaging such as CT and MRI. Waiting lists and waiting times increase, with delayed diagnoses and associated risks to patients. Expert Eye reporting services, using teleradiology image linking, can help address the problems of prolonged waiting times, and maintain a continuous and reliable service.
• Access to expertise in specialist areas: Rare diseases are encountered infrequently by general radiologists in the DGH setting, predominantly due to the wide range of organ systems, and large volume of reporting which they are expected to handle. This can result in important diagnoses being missed. Teleradiology offers the potential to ensure specialist radiologists with appropriate expertise review complex imaging (e.g. CNS, ENT, orthopaedic small joints, cardiac, etc.), reducing the risks of missing clinically important lesions.
• Improved liaison with local clinicians: General and specialist clinicians are becoming increasingly demanding of imaging services, with the recognition of the superiority of cross-sectional imaging (especially CT and MRI) over most other imaging modalities. Teleradiology with appropriate radiological support can facilitate the provision of this service to these clinicians.
• Radiological education / training: With the increasing complexity of medical knowledge, it is becoming more difficult for general radiologists in DGHs to sustain experience in all areas of radiology. The use of a ‘dual-reporting’ teleradiology service facilitates both direct and indirect education and can be provided to local clinicians without jeopardising patient care.
• Radiologist staffing crises: In any radiology department there are occasions when unexpected staffing crises can, and do, arise (e.g. shortages of radiologists due to stress-related and other illness, maternity leave, early retirement or loss of staff). However, with a dedicated teleradiology link, reporting can be instantaneously diverted to dedicated reporting centres with experienced teams of radiologists. With an effective teleradiology system in place, radiology reporting crises can be anticipated and avoided.

If you hospital would be interested in teleradiology reporting contact: teleradiology@experteye.co.uk