Emergency Radiology: Current Challenges and Preparing for Continued Growth

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Radiology Vol. 16; no. 10; pp. 1447 - 1455
• Main Authors: Chong, Suzanne T., Robinson, Jeffrey D., Davis, Melissa A., Bruno, Michael A., Roberge, Eric A., Reddy, Sravanthi, Pyatt, Robert S., Friedberg, Eric B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-10-2019
• Subjects: Burnout; emergency radiology; mass casualty; practice management; quality; practice management; mass casualty; Burnout; emergency radiology; quality
• ISSN: 1546-1440; 1558-349X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2019.03.009

The escalation of imaging volumes in the emergency department and intensifying demands for rapid radiology results have increased the demand for emergency radiology. The provision of emergency radiology is essential for nearly all radiology practices, from the smallest to the largest. As our radiology specialty responds to the challenge posed by the triple threat of providing 24-7 coverage, high imaging volumes, and rapid turnaround time, various questions regarding emergency radiology have emerged, including its definition and scope, unique operational demands, quality and safety concerns, impact on physician well-being, and future directions. This article reviews the current challenges confronting the subspecialty of emergency radiology and offers insights into preparing for continued growth.