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Radiology Job Outlook

Guest post by: Robert Truog

Article Overview: Highly paid Radiologists may not generate much sympathy but their world may be changing. The constant rise in their salaries seems to have hit a wall and indeed due to some changes in reimbursement rates they may actually have fallen recently. Health care reform and the recession are already impacting the bottom line negatively. Last year, U.S. hospitals saw more patients without insurance or the ability to pay their hospital bills. Bad debt has risen while donations have fallen.

Radiology Job Outlook

Highly paid Radiologists may not generate much sympathy but their world may be changing. The constant rise in their salaries seems to have hit a wall and indeed due to some changes in reimbursement rates they may actually have fallen recently. Health care reform and the recession are already impacting the bottom line negatively. Last year, U.S. hospitals saw more patients without insurance or the ability to pay their hospital bills. Bad debt has risen while donations have fallen. The United States is in the midst of a physician shortage that may intensify as the largest part of the population, the baby boomers, age and their need for health care grows. The shrinking economy, the aging population and the impending health care reform are the main factors impacting this problem.

A study indicates that there is currently a shortage of diagnostic radiologists in the United States. The American College of Radiology's (ACR) survey of hiring in 1998 measured the shortage at 600 but others see techology easing the shortage as radiologists are able to perform more proceedures more efficiently.

Economy and Aging Population

The US is aging. Between 2010 and 2035, all age groups 70 and above will increase over 95%. This means there will be a greater demand for all healthcare

services. Further, it is estimated that as many as one-third of today's practicing physicians will retire by 2020. There are about 30,000 practicing radiologists in the US.

The recession and massive job loss across the country has had a direct impact on the revenue stream to physicians. When people lose their job, they also lose their health care benefits and so access to healthcare. Further, the makers of high-tech imaging equipment may take a big hit should government insurance payments for such tests be reduced. Lower reimbursements may make hospitals reconsider buying the $1 million imaging machines.

The recent stock market collapse has had a major impact on older physicians decisions. Some Radiologists are postponing retirement because of the economy's impact on their retirement savings. But even a three- to five-year delay won't address the impending loss of experienced physicians. This postponement has resulted in fewer jobs being offered and graduating residents not finding as many opportunities as before. Residents rather than committing themselves to less desirable jobs now, are opting for locum tenens jobs and waiting before committing to full time employment. So for the short term, it appears there are fewer good jobs available.

Health Insurance Reform

Another uncertainty is the outcome of national health reform. If the health care reform actually works in increasing the enrollment into healthcare insurance then the long term the aging population and these increased numbers should push demand for services and therefore cost higher. However, no one yet knows what will happen to reimbursement rates from Medicare. Already there has been some lowering of rates they pay in Radiology which has directly impacted that specialty. The question is will there be more

rates cut to affect all specialties.

Because of these and other factors many physician practices are holding off making any decisions until they have a better idea of how the health reform will impact these reimbursements.

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Article Tags: radiology employment, radiology jobs



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