Characteristics of radiology groups and of diagnostic radiologists and radiation oncologists in different types of practices

PURPOSE: To describe the characteristics of U.S. radiology groups and of radiologists in different types of practices in 1995. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey was distributed to 3,024 radiologists; the response rate was 75%. Responses were weighted to represent all U.S. groups or radiologists. RESULTS: There were 3,285 groups; 340 were academic, and 356 were multispecialty., Fifty percent of groups had two to four members; 39% of radiologists were in groups with fewer than eight members, and 8% were solo practitioners. Seventy percent of all radiologists were in practices owned entirely by physicians in the practice, and 80% of these were themselves owners. Eight percent of radiologists were in government-owned practices, and 15% (primarily academic) were in privately-owned practices in which all physicians were employees. Sixty-nine percent of academic diagnostic radiologists worked primarily in one field, but this was true of only 22% of those in nonacademic groups. Solo diagnostic practitioners also typically had a broad practice but excluded high-cost modalities. Radiologists in nonacademic groups averaged more vacation days (30 d/yr) than academic (19 d/yr) or solo (12 d/yr) practitioners. Solo and locum tenens practitioners were relatively old; academic radiologist, relatively young. CONCLUSION: Through 1995, average group size has grown slowly. There are important differences among practice types, especially between academic and nonacademic practices.