It’s no secret that trend in physician services have private practice physicians closing up shop and becoming hospital employees. That trend will likely carry over to physicians specializing in radiology.

“Diagnostic Imaging” recently reported that while the future for radiology is bright, that of radiologists might not be.

“For radiologists, industry changes and emerging imaging resource trends are threatening some of their livelihood,” Lawrence R. Muroff, MD, president and CEO of Tampa-based Imaging Consultants.

“Outsourcing through teleradiology has allowed a certain level of flexibility for radiology professionals. It has, however, distanced hospitals and medical offices from their radiology resources.”

As radiologists engage in growing turf wars with other health professionals providing imaging work, hospital administrators are putting greater demands on radiology groups. By 2015, hospitals will become more aggressive in trying to get radiologists to become employees, something Muroff advocates against, as reported in “Diagnostic Imaging.”

“Hospitals are becoming less attached, less protective of their radiologists,” said Dr. Muroff. “This is going to put tremendous pressure on radiologists. Things are going to be far more difficult than they have been in the last 10 years.”

The article goes on to say that “sending out for reads makes hospital officials less likely to recognize, or recommend, a familiar face.”

“Utilizing such outsourced physician services, Dr. Muroff said, “teaches hospital administrators that relationships don’t matter. Anyone can do it, at any time.”