Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiology physician work RVUs at a large subspecialized radiology practice

Abstract

Purpose As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, efforts by radiology departments to protect patients and healthcare workers and mitigate disease spread have reduced imaging volumes. This study aims to quantify the pandemic's impact on physician productivity across radiology practice areas as measured by physician work Relative Value Units (wRVUs). Materials and methods All signed diagnostic and procedural radiology reports were curated from January 1st to July 1st of 2019 and 2020. Physician work RVUs were assigned to each study type based on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Utilizing divisional assignments, radiologist schedules were mapped to each report to generate a sum of wRVUs credited to that division for each week. Differential impact on divisions were calculated relative to a matched timeframe in 2019 and a same length pre-pandemic time period in 2020. Results All practice areas saw a substantial decrease in wRVUs from the 2020 pre- to intra-pandemic time period with a mean decrease of 51.5% (range 15.4%–76.9%). The largest declines were in Breast imaging, Musculoskeletal, and Neuroradiology, which had decreases of 76.9%, 75.3%, and 67.5%, respectively. The modalities with the greatest percentage decrease were mammography, MRI, and non-PET nuclear medicine. Conclusion All radiology practice areas and modalities experienced a substantial decrease in wRVUs. The greatest decline was in Breast imaging, Neuroradiology, and Musculoskeletal radiology. Understanding the differential impact of the pandemic on practice areas will help radiology departments prepare for the potential depth and duration of the pandemic by better understanding staffing needs and the financial effects.

A Global Review of the Impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on Radiology Practice, Finances, and Operations

“…The largest decreases in wRVUs were seen with mammography, MRI, and non-PET nuclear medicine modalities, which had decreases of 81.6%, 69.7%, and 70.7%, respectively. The departments with the largest wRVU decreases were breast, neuro, and musculoskeletal, with decreases of 75.1%, 70.6%, and 66.0%, respectively [22].…”

“…A multi-subspecialty radiology practice in Michigan noted an overall average decrease in wRVUs of 52.1% between the intra-pandemic weeks of 2020, defined as 16 March 2020 to 18 May 2020, and the same time frame in 2019 [22]. The largest decreases in wRVUs were seen with mammography, MRI, and non-PET nuclear medicine modalities, which had decreases of 81.6%, 69.7%, and 70.7%, respectively.…”

“…The largest decreases in wRVUs were seen with mammography, MRI, and non-PET nuclear medicine modalities, which had decreases of 81.6%, 69.7%, and 70.7%, respectively. The departments with the largest wRVU decreases were breast, neuro, and musculoskeletal, with decreases of 75.1%, 70.6%, and 66.0%, respectively [22]. A multi-subspecialty radiology practice in Michigan noted an overall average decrease in wRVUs of 52.1% between the intra-pandemic weeks of 2020, defined as 16 March 2020 to 18 May 2020, and the same time frame in 2019 [22].…”

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates: Impact on Radiology Department Operations and Mitigation Strategies

“…All SA-CME articles can be found on JACR.org by navigating to SA-CME on the dropdown menu. subspecialty and modality), as well as offering mitigation strategies to minimize productivity losses and optimize staffing [2][3][4]. As the pandemic cycled through peaks and troughs, imaging volumes eventually returned to prepandemic levels; however, the stress on the health care workforce became evident with studies citing increased anxiety and burnout across the health care systemincluding physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff [5,6].…”