Business of Radiology 101: The State of Radiology Business Practice and Health Care Policy Curricula at US Radiology Residency Programs

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, content, and perceptions of curricula focused on radiology business practice and health care policy at US radiology residency training programs. Methods: The desired survey population was trainees and faculty members of radiology residency programs in the United States. Three anonymous survey instruments were distributed, including an e-mail survey to the membership of the ACR RFS, a paper survey to ACR RFS delegates attending the 2010 AMCLC, and an e-mail survey to the membership of the Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR). Results: Response rates for the surveys were 12%, 25%, and 21%, respectively. Members of the APDR and RFS agreed that understanding and competency in business practice and health care policy topics are important to the future careers of residents (total favorable sentiment > 86% for APDR members and > 96% for RFS members). Most survey respondents' home institutions offer some form of a noninterpretive curriculum (91% of APDR respondents, 74% of RFS respondents), but the breadth of topics addressed and educational time devoted to these curricula were quite variable. Subjective effectiveness of curricula was infrequently rated as very effective by 12% of APDR respondents and 6% of RFS respondents. Conclusions: Despite the perceived importance of radiology business practice and health care policy education, and residency training requirements in competencies related to these subjects that have been in place for more than a decade, curricula addressing these items still seem to be in a stage of acceptance and development. Further commitment to and innovation within these curricula are requisite in educating our future radiologists.