Radiology Referral: Fill & Download for Free

Dear FriendsI presume this question is asked in Indian perspective and trends in India. This query about radiology is partly correct as this trend had started 1982-84 on wards and spreaded pan India in post graduation in various specialities in medicine. The reasons to this are1: Sudden development of this specialty when it is no more radiology but Clinical radiology and imaging now. A addition of diagnostic armemetrium of Ultrasound, Colour doppler, CT scan, MRI and nuclear medicine . This lead to acute shortage of radiologist during this period. The job opportunities became plenty in private, Government sector and armed forces etc. The shortage of radiologist is still a global phenomenon and there were plenty of overseas opportunities as well. Before this period MS orthopedics and MD pediatrics were in great demand but radiology overtook the position as a preferred branch.The returns were quite handsome and radiologist were getting good packages as compared to other specialities.2: There is a paradigm shift in practice of medicine over last 4 decades. The inclusion of medical profession in consumer protection act, corporate taking over hospital and health care lead to diagnosis first prior to treatment approach. This had increased the workload in diagnostic branches like radiology .3: Radiology was and by and large a nonsurgical speciality so the stress related to surgery is not there. However exception is interventional radiology where radiologist performs the procedures using guidance of these tools.4: Radiology was supposed to be branch with no emergency calls. So it was considered to be a cool branch. But now days it is no more scenario. Emergency radiology reporting is generating a “ night hawk” teleradiology jobs.5: Though radiology itself was considered as a sub-specialization in medicine. However this scenario is changing very fast world over. The job profiles required are frequently like female radiologist doing ultrasound (in India and Gulf), Breast radiologist, Muskulo-skeletal radiologist, Interventional radiologists , Cross sectional imaging , Neuro radiologists etc besides people practicing only US or CT or MRI.Now some absolutely bad aspect of radiology as a preferred subspecialization.1: This branch is totally dependent on referrals. So until and unless a radiologist is ready to shell out a big chunk to referring doctors it is unlikely that a radiologist will be able to get a business. You may call it immoral or social evil but it is the fact of life radiologist can not deny if he has to survive. In private practice radiologist have to do it as an individual. In corporate hospitals this is done in a professional way. Only government jobs are exceptions. So until and unless one is mentally prepared to do this he should think twice before choosing this branch. Or else look for Government jobs, Overseas jobs etc. There will be very few exceptions to this cut practice. If you wish to understand this evil see Hindi movie “Nasoor”2: Other branches are taking over like Bariatric surgery and interventional cardiology SO PROBABLY IT IS NO MORE ATOP PREFERRED BRANCH.I have not covered sex determination and PNDT aspect in this article as it itself a big social topic for analysis.

One of the biggest problems with healthcare in India, specifically diagnostics, is that of the referrals or cut-practice.It is the ethically questionable practice of sharing fees with professional colleagues, such as physicians or laboratories, in return for being sent referrals. This problem is specially prevalent in diagnostics, with some doctors charging upto 70% of the pathology/radiology bills as a referral fee.Not only does this make quality healthcare unaffordable for a huge number of patients, it also is inherently bad for the patient, because the doctor now has a conflict of interest - instead of sending the patient to the best possible option, the doctor will refer him to those who (s)he has a tie-up with.Resources:Fee splitting - Wikipedia articleRadiologist assn complains about doc indulging in ‘cut’ practice - The Times of IndiaRaigad doctor pens against 'cut practice' in global journal | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis - DNA articleDisclaimer:I am a co-founder at www.medd.in, which is trying to reduce this evil in society by eliminating the doctor's power of referring patients. Patients can now compare all possible options and make an informed choice, directly booking the relevant test and bypassing the referral fees. Currently we are in beta, offering pathology and radiology tests such as MRI, CT Scan, blood tests, at Indore.

No, Planned Parenthood does not have the equipment and radiology department necessary for a mammogram. They perform basic breast health exams and provide a referral if a mammogram is necessary or recommended.But then again, the VAST majority of doctors’ offices, including gynecologists do not perform mammograms. I had to get referred out for MY first mammogram just this week, because my ob/gyn is not inside a hospital and thus cannot perform a mammogram.