3 ms·

The demand for radiologists is effectively infinite. Right now the healthcare system is supply constrained. If AI tools reduce the work of reading an image then

by nradov 2y ago

The demand for radiologists is effectively infinite. Right now the healthcare system is supply constrained. If AI tools reduce the work of reading an image then more imaging studies will be ordered. Also, many radiologists do interventional procedures directly with patients. We're a long, long way from being able to significantly automate that work.

seesthruya 2y ago
This is 100% true and very insightful, but not obvious to people who don't work in healthcare.
SoftTalker 2y ago
So I recently needed an MRI to evaluate a rotator cuff injury. Because MRIs are expensive, insurnace required that I do 6 weeks of physical therapy first to see if that would resolve it. Is this because the imaging process is so expensive, or because the radiologist who reads the image is so expensive? If demand for an expensive imaging process increases, it will get even more expensive.
- nradov 2y ago
  MRI machines and radiologist reads are both expensive. These are among the largest areas of medical spending for most health plans (and those costs are largely passed on to subscribers and employers). Many rotator cuff injuries do improve to some extent with targeted physical therapy. You can accomplish a lot by strengthening the stabilizer muscles, and by learning how to set your shoulder joint in the correct position before taking a load. So the insurer's position is reasonable for most cases. If the injury is more severe then your doctor can submit a request to skip the normal step therapy process.
- seesthruya 2y ago
  When you get a medical test like an MRI, there is both a technical fee and a professional fee that is paid. For a shoulder MRI, the technical fee, which goes to the facility that performs the scan, maybe $1,500. The professional fee, that goes to the radiologist that interprets the scan, maybe $80. Patients often only see a global fee.

by nradov 2y ago

seesthruya 2y ago

This is 100% true and very insightful, but not obvious to people who don't work in healthcare.

SoftTalker 2y ago

So I recently needed an MRI to evaluate a rotator cuff injury. Because MRIs are expensive, insurnace required that I do 6 weeks of physical therapy first to see if that would resolve it. Is this because the imaging process is so expensive, or because the radiologist who reads the image is so expensive? If demand for an expensive imaging process increases, it will get even more expensive.

nradov 2y ago
MRI machines and radiologist reads are both expensive. These are among the largest areas of medical spending for most health plans (and those costs are largely passed on to subscribers and employers). Many rotator cuff injuries do improve to some extent with targeted physical therapy. You can accomplish a lot by strengthening the stabilizer muscles, and by learning how to set your shoulder joint in the correct position before taking a load. So the insurer's position is reasonable for most cases. If the injury is more severe then your doctor can submit a request to skip the normal step therapy process.
seesthruya 2y ago
When you get a medical test like an MRI, there is both a technical fee and a professional fee that is paid. For a shoulder MRI, the technical fee, which goes to the facility that performs the scan, maybe $1,500. The professional fee, that goes to the radiologist that interprets the scan, maybe $80. Patients often only see a global fee.