Practice Management

I share interest in the discussion.  We have 3 RPA/RA's who provide fluoro to inpatients only under general supervision.  The group has never billed for their work, but it is seen as very helpful to efficiency.  They are also personally supervised by the Radiologists for outpatient fluoro, and provide considerable assistance to the Rads with needle/catheter procedures and scrub in and assist with some IR.  So, they generate no revenue, but are considered valued team members who make the Radiologists more efficient.  They work out of 4 hospitals. 

We also have 2 PA's who work with the IR docs on outpatient IR, and inpatient rounding and they do consults and greatly assist with IR docs.  There is considerable interest in allowing them to perform some of the needle/catheter procedures (done with US or fluoro provided by a Rad Tech) under general supervision, and bill those procedures with the incident to modifier.  One of them has done those procedures in her previous job and is credentialed by the hospital to perform them.  There has also been some discussion as to whether they can be trained to perform fluoro under general supervision.  There is some trepidation about training these mid-levels to provide radiology focused services under general supervision when they little to no radiology experience.  I am curious if anyone has made that leap, and if so, did they hire PA's who were formerly Rad Techs, or did they train them to perform and provide those services?  We do not use mid-levels in imaging centers and are only using them in the hospital setting.  They are employed by the group and not the hospital.  Thanks for further insight. 

Darlene Molenaar, COO

Colorado Imaging Associates, P.C.

Healthcare Business Services, LLC

1819 Denver West Drive

Building 26; Suite 101

Lakewood, CO 80401

Office:  303-416-1360

Cell:  860-989-6008

Fax:  303-416-1058

I share interest in the discussion.  We have 3 RPA/RA's who provide fluoro to inpatients only under general supervision.  The group has never billed for their work, but it is seen as very helpful to efficiency.  They are also personally supervised by the Radiologists for outpatient fluoro, and provide considerable assistance to the Rads with needle/catheter procedures and scrub in and assist with some IR.  So, they generate no revenue, but are considered valued team members who make the Radiologists more efficient.  They work out of 4 hospitals. 

We also have 2 PA's who work with the IR docs on outpatient IR, and inpatient rounding and they do consults and greatly assist with IR docs.  There is considerable interest in allowing them to perform some of the needle/catheter procedures (done with US or fluoro provided by a Rad Tech) under general supervision, and bill those procedures with the incident to modifier.  One of them has done those procedures in her previous job and is credentialed by the hospital to perform them.  There has also been some discussion as to whether they can be trained to perform fluoro under general supervision.  There is some trepidation about training these mid-levels to provide radiology focused services under general supervision when they little to no radiology experience.  I am curious if anyone has made that leap, and if so, did they hire PA's who were formerly Rad Techs, or did they train them to perform and provide those services?  We do not use mid-levels in imaging centers and are only using them in the hospital setting.  They are employed by the group and not the hospital.  Thanks for further insight. 

Darlene Molenaar, COO

Colorado Imaging Associates, P.C.

Healthcare Business Services, LLC

1819 Denver West Drive

Building 26; Suite 101

Lakewood, CO 80401

Office:  303-416-1360

Cell:  860-989-6008

Fax:  303-416-1058