Film screening by physician assistants in diagnostic radiology

Data are presented which indicate that specially selected ART students can be trained to evaluate radiographs as to the presence or absence of significant pathology with an accuracy equivalent to that of experienced staff radiologists. The methods employed in this training program-namely, stressing perceptual recognition of normal and abnormal findings-may be beneficial in the early months of training of diagnostic radiology residents to hasten achievement of an acceptable perceptual performance. Test films, used in this study as an evaluation technique, may also be useful to assess residents' progress.