RadRx

Due to a massive screw up by AT&T the office phone is out of order (since yesterday) and will be so until Monday, July 7th. There is not even a way for me to pick up voice mails, so please use the Contact button on radrx.com for all communications.

📉 Can AI Help Solve the Radiologist Shortage? 📈

A new international literature review suggests that AI shines brightest when interpreting scans from patients with either very high or very low odds of illness—potentially cutting radiologist workload by up to 53%. This could be a game changer as healthcare systems grapple with global radiologist shortages, burnout, and increasing diagnostic demands.

But it's not all smooth scanning ahead. The review flags persistent ethical, legal, and workflow concerns, including:

📍 Trust in AI systems and who’s liable for errors

📍 Fears over job disruption and loss of human judgment

📍 Gaps in real-world, primary research on AI impact

Researchers urge that radiologists—not AI—must retain final decision-making power, at least during a transition period. The bottom line? AI has promise to boost care quality and resilience, but adoption must be thoughtful and evidence-based.

Is AI just what the doctor ordered for the radiologist shortage? Yes and no AI shines in radiology when tasked with interpreting images of patients whose odds of illness are either very high or very low. In these cases, the technology could help mitigate burnout and supplement staffing.

🚨 Physician Shortage Crisis Intensifies: What’s Driving Doctors to Leave?

AMA President Bruce Scott, MD, is sounding the alarm on a worsening physician workforce crisis—and the reasons are stacking up fast:

🩺 Why are doctors burning out and leaving?

Crushing administrative burdens (think endless prior auths)

Declining Medicare reimbursements—down 33% since 2000 (adjusted for inflation!)

Increased workloads and patient complexity

Lack of federally funded residency spots despite more med school grads

Over $200K in medical school debt, with loan forgiveness on hold

Immigration barriers for international med grads—who make up 25% of rural care

💥 Nearly 1 in 5 physicians plan to retire or leave practice in the next 2 years.
📉 The U.S. faces a shortfall of 80,000+ physicians by 2035, per AAMC.

“Physicians are being asked to do more, paid less, and blocked from doing what matters most—caring for patients,” says Scott.

🛠 AMA is pushing for bold reforms:

Fix Medicare pay

Cut red tape

Expand residency slots

Support international grads

👉 This is a national healthcare emergency in the making.

https://healthexec.com/topics/healthcare-management/healthcare-policy/ama-president-highlights-growing-crisis-facing-us-physicians?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=rb_news

Perhaps AI can assist with the shortage by making physicians more efficient.

AMA President highlights growing crisis facing U.S. physicians American Medical Association President Bruce Scott, MD, explains some of the key issues facing physicians, including burnout, growing medical staffing shortages, doctors leaving rural areas, increasing patients and declining Medicare payments.

🚨 Thinking About Going Solo? Here’s my unfiltered advice for aspiring solopreneurs in coding and health information:

💡 If you crave stability and steady paychecks, solopreneurship may not be for you.
There are ups and downs. Income fluctuates. Clients don’t always pay on time. In fact, the bigger the organization, the slower the payment in my experience. And yes, contracts can be canceled with little notice.

💸 Set your rates with intention.
Don’t lowball to get in the door—you’ll regret it. The clients who pay the least often demand the most. Meanwhile, those willing to pay top dollar tend to respect your time and expertise. When you underprice yourself, you don’t just hurt your own business, you devalue the entire profession. (This includes ridiculously cheap education as well-there is a balance)

🧭 Set boundaries early.
You train your clients how to treat you. If you’re available 24/7, they’ll expect it forever. Respect your time and communicate during business hours. You’re building a business, not becoming someone’s 24/7 safety net.

🙅‍♀️ Not every client is worth it.
Choose the right clients—those who value your skills, respect your time, and appreciate your work. Don’t chase every dollar. It’s not worth the drain on your energy or integrity.

🌱 And finally—don’t quit your day job just yet. Build slowly. Test the waters. Learn as you grow. Solopreneurship is a journey, not a leap.

💬 If you're a fellow solopreneur, what lessons have you learned the hard way?