Turf wars in radiology: training in diagnostic imaging: how much is enough?

Abstract

Although many medical organizations have issued training standards for various types of diagnostic imaging, these standards tend to be arbitrary and may not adequately address the question of how much training is necessary or sufficient. In this article, the authors review the evidence pertaining to this question, which shows that acquiring expertise in imaging is a lifelong process and that there may never be such a thing as "enough" training. It is therefore likely that even though some nonradiologist physicians may meet the standards developed by some organizations, they will not have achieved the expertise that comes with long years of experience or subspecialty training in imaging. Payers and hospital credentials committees have a responsibility to patients to try to help reduce medical errors by ensuring that only those physicians who are best trained and most experienced are allowed to perform and interpret imaging studies.