In an episode of The Radiology Report Podcast, Dr. Glenn Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Operations for Radiology Partners, a healthcare administration executive and board-certified physician with over two decades of leadership experience, shares his thoughts on the evolving landscape of Radiology. From the challenges of maintaining financial viability to the role of advanced practitioners and AI in addressing capacity issues, Dr. Kaplan offers a thoughtful perspective on the future of the field.
Here are the 5 key takeaways from the conversation:
1. Financial Viability Is Essential for Independent Practices
Dr. Kaplan highlights a pressing concern, the financial instability of many independent radiology groups. These challenges often lead to the collapse of contracts, bankruptcies, and eventual mergers with hospitals or larger entities.
To combat this, Dr. Kaplan emphasizes the need for innovative solutions that allow smaller practices to remain financially viable while maintaining their independence. This includes providing them with national-scale resources and services to sustain operations in underserved and remote areas where recruitment is particularly difficult.
2. Aligning Incentives Between Physicians and Private Equity
While private equity in healthcare often raises concerns about misaligned incentives, Dr. Kaplan offers a more optimistic view. He argues that the key to financial success for private equity-backed practices lies in delivering exceptional patient care and supporting physicians.
By fostering a collaborative environment, such as having physicians on boards of directors and involving diverse perspectives in decision making, private equity can achieve a synergy that benefits patients, physicians, and investors alike.
3. The Role of Advanced Practitioners in Radiology’s Future
Dr. Kaplan is a strong proponent of leveraging advanced practitioners (APs), such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners, to address the ongoing radiologist shortage. He points out the irony of allowing APs to perform invasive procedures like thoracentesis but not permitting them to read simple X-rays in many states.
He envisions a future where APs are integrated into radiology teams, especially for high-volume, low-complexity studies like plain films, which still constitute 55% of radiology’s workload. Dr. Kaplan advocates for structured training programs, AI-enabled support, and state-level pilots to unlock the potential of APs, allowing radiologists to focus on complex imaging studies.
“55% of the volume of radiology is still playing films and even though we’re doing more and more CT and MRI every single day there’s still a massive amount of plain films that are done. Plain films are very challenging because of the high volume of cases with relatively lower likelihood of disease detection. So most radiologists tend to favor things like CT, MRI, ultrasound, mammography where there’s a higher likelihood of disease detection and impact on patient care” – Dr. Glenn Kaplan
4. Embracing AI and Innovation to Tackle Burnout
Radiology faces significant challenges, including increasing workloads and physician burnout. Dr. Kaplan stresses the importance of investing in solutions, such as AI and APs, to alleviate these issues.
He cautions against resistance to change, noting that radiology must embrace innovation to meet growing demand while reducing backlogs and delays that negatively impact patient care. By taking a proactive approach, radiologists can lead the way in shaping the future of the field.
5. Building a Career at the Intersection of Radiology and Business
For radiologists interested in leadership or entrepreneurial roles, Dr. Kaplan shares valuable advice. He underscores the importance of establishing credibility as a Radiologist first, as respect from peers is essential for effective leadership.
He encourages early-career Radiologists to develop a broad skill set, seek mentorship, and actively participate in hospital or practice committees to gain insights into the healthcare business. According to Dr. Kaplan, leadership opportunities will naturally arise for those who build their skills and reputation over time.
A Vision for the Future
Dr. Kaplan’s optimism about the future of Radiology is clear. While challenges like physician shortages, financial pressures, and burnout persist, he believes the field can evolve to better serve patients and clinicians alike. By fostering collaboration, leveraging advanced practitioners, and embracing technology, radiology can achieve sustainable growth and innovation. We need to invest in solutions to address capacity issues and burnout. The long-term health of radiology depends on it.
