Unlocking Pockets of Talent: How Everlight is Boosting Radiology Capacity Worldwide

Author: Everlight Radiology, Global CEO, Rob Anderson

Radiology plays a key and often unseen part of the majority of patient care pathways. Medical imaging will be a part of more than 80% of patient episodes[1], with vital input into areas like cancer care as well as almost all emergency care; and as the population ages, the global demand for diagnostic imaging continues to grow at a rate that outpaces radiology workforce growth.

We’re witnessing a yearly surge in complex medical imaging, rising demands for shorter waiting times, and increased development of capacity to capture images. However, this expansion in volume is not matched by the capacity to report these images. For example, Royal College of Radiologists’ (RCR) Workforce Census reveals a 30% shortfall of clinical radiologists, projected to rise to 40% by 2028[2]; while in Australia the latest Clinical Radiology Workforce Census Report reveals a critical shortage of clinical radiologists of just 91.5 clinical radiologists per million Australians[3].

This shortage has serious implications for patient care, leading to longer waiting times for diagnostic imaging and delayed treatment

As we watch cases of chronic disease, cancer, and cardiac disease rise across the globe, diagnostic imaging has a pivotal role to play in supporting overstretched healthcare systems and reducing the backlog. Therefore, the ability to harness global talent to report on these conditions is not just an advantage – it’s a necessity.

So, how do we unlock a global talent pool of radiologists and increase reporting for patients?

One way to maintain and expand capacity is a ‘work anywhere’ flexible working policy for radiologists, something that can be achieved through teleradiology. Flexible working can mean both in time/hours and in location.

Delivered the right way, in partnership with in-house radiology departments, teleradiology can deliver the spectrum of flexibility that’s needed. It can support radiologists personally and professionally, improving retention of expertise and capacity in the system, and in doing so supporting departments delivering for shared patients. Critically, we must recognise and be able to meet the individual needs of radiologists in their own bespoke circumstances and move beyond traditional working arrangements.

In the dynamic field of radiology, reporting remains a cornerstone of a radiologist’s daily responsibilities

However, the scope of their work extends far beyond this, encompassing critical tasks such as planning, managing workflows, supporting registrars, participating in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, and ensuring coverage during out-of-hours and weekends.

By providing remote coverage for out-of-hours shifts and assisting with overflow during peak times, teleradiology not only enhances efficiency but also ensures continuous, high-quality patient care, allowing hospital radiologists to focus more on their core competencies while maintaining a more balanced workload.

This model puts in-house Consultant Radiologists back into the daytime workflow where they are needed most

By partnering with an organisation like Everlight, healthcare providers can alleviate local shortages and improve patient access to specialised care whatever the time of day, or day of the year, without requiring their own in-house teams to work unsociable hours.

Unlocking the global talent pool

Traditionally, radiologists have been confined to working within the physical boundaries of their local healthcare facilities. This geographical limitation has often led to disparities in the availability and quality of radiological services, particularly in underserved regions – for example, across rural Australia. In the past, a hospital-based radiologist might receive a call in the middle of the night, prompting a hurried trip to the hospital to review scans and write reports, or logging into their own system at home to report one emergency scan. Teams would struggle to fill rotas, with specialists often unavailable due to holidays or other commitments, leading to gaps in critical care.

Teleradiology breaks down these barriers. We work with healthcare providers to deliver more efficient care, while simultaneously offering radiologists the flexible working conditions they have long desired.

Everlight Radiology offers a unique model which connects radiologists based all over the world back into the healthcare systems in which they trained. For example, it means that a previously untapped pool of NHS radiologists already living overseas for a multitude of reasons, can continue to support the NHS. This keeps expertise and capacity in the system which would otherwise be lost.

Empowering radiologists with flexibility

One of the most significant benefits of Everlight’s teleradiology platform is the flexibility it offers to radiologists.

We wanted to create the ultimate flexible working environment – work any hours, work from home, work from any country – ensuring that both radiologists and patients benefit from this innovative approach. By enabling radiologists to work remotely, we can provide an opportunity for a better work-life balance, which is crucial in a demanding field like radiology. Radiologists can now choose their working hours and locations, leading to increased job satisfaction and reduced burnout. This flexibility also attracts top talent who might otherwise be unable or unwilling to relocate, thereby enriching our pool of experts.

Why remote working and access to a global pool of radiologists matters?

The importance of accessing a global talent pool cannot be overstated. At Everlight Radiology, our network of over 800 Consultant Radiologists allows us to provide 24/7/365 radiology services to our hospital customers, ensuring that no matter where a patient is located, they have access to expert and often sub-specialist radiological expertise – sometimes as quickly as within 16 minutes. By tapping into this vast network, we can match the right specialist to the right case, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and improving patient outcomes.

Through our unique working model, we are able to:

1. Improving access to sub-speciality expertise: Different regions have varying prevalence of certain diseases. By leveraging a global network, we can ensure that radiologists with specific expertise in particular conditions are available to provide accurate diagnoses, regardless of where the patient is located. The range and capacity of our network allows us to deliver over 2 million reports annually with 99.5% accuracy.
2. Provide 24/7/365 day urgent and routine reporting: Health emergencies don’t adhere to a 9-to-5 schedule. By having radiologists in different time zones, we can provide round-the-clock services, ensuring that patients receive timely diagnoses and care from awake and alert radiologists on shift.
3. Improve reporting time: Average urgent report turnaround time of under 30 minutes.
4. Offer diverse perspectives: A global team brings diverse perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. This diversity fosters innovation and leads to more comprehensive and effective healthcare solutions.
5. Addressing radiology shortages: Many regions face a shortage of radiologists, which can delay diagnoses and treatment. By accessing a global talent pool, we can alleviate these shortages and ensure that all patients receive the care they need promptly.

Our commitment to excellence

At Everlight Radiology, we are committed to harnessing the full potential of global talent. We invest in state-of-the-art technology to facilitate seamless collaboration and communication among our radiologists, regardless of their location. Our robust training programs, such as everlearning, ensure that all our radiologists are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills, enabling them to provide the highest quality care.

The future of teleradiology is here and it is global

Teleradiology is a growth technology, with the global teleradiology market anticipated to expand at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 12.5% from 2022 to 2030. It’s becoming widely used in hospitals and healthcare settings across the globe due to the global shortage of radiologists.

As we look to the future, the potential for teleradiology to transform healthcare is immense. By continuing to unlock pockets of exceptional global talent, we make high-quality radiology services accessible to all, regardless of the day, time, location or size of the radiology team we are partnered with. We can improve patient outcomes and save lives, whilst ensuring both those radiologists who work in hospitals and the ones directly employed by us have a better work/life balance.

Everlight’s ability to tap into a global network of radiologists is not just a strategic advantage for our company – it is a game-changer for setting new standards for excellence in patient care. At Everlight Radiology, the lights never go off as our ‘follow the sun model’ allows our clinically led team of over 800 Consultant Radiologists to deliver expert 24/7 radiology reporting, working in partnership with our customers to improve turnaround times and patient outcomes.

References:

[1] clinical_radiology_census_report_2021.pdf (rcr.ac.uk)

[2] 2023 clinical radiology and clinical oncology workforce census reports | The Royal College of Radiologists (rcr.ac.uk)

[3] 2020 Clinical Radiology Workforce Census Report: Australia | RANZCR