X-rays are a defining feature of urgent care and a convenience that can help patients save a lot of time and money compared to the ER. However, for may urgent cares, the number of X-rays taken don’t justify the cost of hiring a radiologist — and using floating or part time radiologists can mean delays in overreads. Swift, accurate diagnoses are critical to urgent care. So how do you leverage this important service without it hindering patient outcomes or your bottom line?
For answers, we look to a past Urgent Care Connect session, Managing Staff Workloads With Fluctuating Patient Volumes, where three urgent care leaders addressed solutions to this problem. Here are some valuable lessons shared by Sam Eskildsen, CEO Mainstreet Urgent Care; Rachel Sossoman, CEO Mercy Urgent Care; and Hillary Myers, Executive Director of Operations, Lansing Urgent Care.
The headline here is that most clinics can either train staff to take X-rays, and/or use providers where they are legally allowed to operate the machine. Eskildsen pointed out you can identify the specific types of X-rays your clinic frequently performs, and train your staff to become proficient in these areas. This targeted training can be conducted internally, allowing you to avoid the need for a rad tech in certain states where regulations permit.
“If you stop for a moment and look at the total volume of your X-rays, you’ll discover that many of them are driven by what drives all your volume, which is upper respiratory infections. And there’s just not a huge number of views and view configurations involved in that. So when you start to come in at that perspective, it is possible to train people to be very good at the certain limited number of things that you’re going to do in your clinic. You don’t necessarily gain anything from the rad tech.” – Sam Eskildsen
Sossoman shared an excellent example of this with Mercy University’s cross-training program. This internal skills development initiative not only trains staff for X-ray skills but also cross-trains other positions within the organization. This flexibility enables clinics to utilize a smaller number of staff more effectively, especially during periods of lower patient volumes. The result? Higher retention rates and a more versatile workforce.
“We have, in the absence of X-ray technologists, begun a cross-training program that we call Mercy University. It’s an internal skills development program as well as a cross-training program that enables us to train internally for those X-ray skills because in North Carolina we can do that without the radiologic technologist being certified. But it also enables us to cross-train any other position ancillary to the provider in the organization.” – Rachel Sossoman
Similar to Mercy University, Myers explained how Lansing Urgent Care developed an apprenticeship program for rad tech specialists. They partnered with the Department of Labor to teach the skills needed to perform most urgent care X-rays.
Myers also explained that because of the clinic’s proximity to University of Michigan, they’re able to hire students who are interested in pursuing a medical career. In doing so, full-time administrators are freed up to help in those skilled areas that they’re trained in and support the clinical team — which is especially helpful in the winter when volumes are higher.
“We got creative and we worked with the Department of Labor to build an apprenticeship program. So these are called rad tech specialists. And once the program’s complete, most of those X-rays that we perform in urgent care, these people can perform. And if not, then we have them go to another clinic where I do have a rad tech on site.” – Hillary Myers
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Where providers and cross-trained rad techs can handle the majority of urgent care X-rays, you still need a reliable source to interpret the images. Again, patients want and need results fast, and you cannot sacrifice quality for speed without putting the patient and/or business at risk. This is where a reputable, reliable teleradiology partner comes into play.
Teleradiology allows radiologists to remotely review and interpret X-ray images, ensuring accurate diagnoses without the need for an on-site radiologist. This not only enhances the quality of care but also provides a cost-effective solution for clinics. But beware: not all teleradiology providers consistently deliver accuracy and/or speed.
You need a partner who is committed to providing top-notch overread services with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. As the only FDA-approved AI solution for fracture detection, Experity’s AI-assisted overreads boast a 99% accuracy rate. We complete most stat reads in under 15 minutes and routine reads in under 30 minutes — so you receive timely results, often before the patient leaves the clinic.
Need support? Our secure chat feature is HIPAA-compliant, enabling seamless communication with our team without the need for a phone call. You can even speak directly with the radiologist who performed an overread for you, ensuring clarity and confidence in your results.
We are here for you 365 days a year with extended hours, always ready to support your needs. Additionally, our ownership of our PACS has allowed us to streamline workflows, add efficiencies, and improve the end-user experience, resulting in the highest-quality reads and fastest turnaround times that far surpass industry standards.
Give your patients better care and empower your staff to do more by not relying solely on onsite or independent contractor radiologists for X-rays. Need a teleradiology partner? Learn more about Experity’s teleradiology services on our dedicated page, or fill out the form to start the conversation.
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