Radiology groups' workload in relative value units and factors affecting it

To measure diagnostic radiology groups' workload in physician work relative value units (RVUs) and identify factors affecting it.

In 1996 and 1997, the authors surveyed diagnostic radiology and radiation oncology groups regarding finances, workload, and basic characteristics. The study was based on approximately 100 diagnostic radiology groups. The authors analyzed the distribution of workload in different categories of groups, conducting multiple statistical analyses.

The annual numbers of procedures were approximately 10%-15% lower than those in a comparison survey with a good response rate. The annual number of RVUs per full-time equivalent (FTE) diagnostic radiologist was highly variable in every group category, as was the number of RVUs per clinical work hour. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that variation in the annual number of hours worked did not explain variation in annual workload. RVUs per FTE radiologist were higher the greater the percentage of a group's workload from interventional, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance imaging procedures.

Given the likely response bias, the annual workload per FTE radiologist probably averaged approximately 4,000 RVUs in academic groups and approximately 6,000 in nonacademic groups, but the large, unexplained variance means the average values should not be taken as norms.