DiagnosticsInterventional Radiology: From Sidelines To Mainstream For Patients
The Society of Interventional Radiology hailed the extension of an
American College of Radiology resolution in support of clinical patient management by vascular and
interventional radiologists as an important reminder of the critical contribution these minimally invasive
specialists bring to quality patient health care.
"Passage of ACR"s Resolution 22 is a continued endorsement of interventional radiology"s unique
contribution of supporting innumerable clinical services while providing direct care," said SIR President
Brian F. Stainken, M.D., FSIR. "Interventional radiologists provide patients with the least invasive and
most advanced treatment options for a wide variety of medical conditions, offering less risk, less pain and
less recovery time when compared to open surgery," noted Stainken. ACR endorsed interventional
radiology"s clinical patient-centered nature 10 years ago, recognizing that interventional radiologists need
an office presence, time allocated to see patients, time to consult with referring physicians and time to see
patients on the ward, said Stainken, an interventional radiologist at Roger Williams Medical Center in
Providence, R.I. Reaffirmation of that policy came during ACR"s 86th Annual Meeting and Chapter
Leadership Conference May 5 in Washington, D.C.
The ACR policy support comes at a time when interventional radiologists have spent more than three
decades working behind the scenes to solve the toughest medical problems, explained Stainken.
"Interventional radiologists historically have worked on the sidelines as the "specialists" specialist," helping
other doctors manage their patients with the most difficult problems-for example, working collaboratively
with surgeons with trauma and transplant care," said Stainken. "While those physician relationships remain
in place, interventional radiologists are taking positions in the front line of medical care. In delivering highquality
health care, interventional radiologists are formalizing their clinical role with offices, doing rounds
and providing formalized consultation," added Stainken.
"As members of the medical house of radiology, interventional radiologists differ greatly from
diagnostic radiologists. Interventional radiologists are hands-on clinicians-who are known as innovative
problem solvers and critical res in tough medical situations-and expert board-certified radiologists.
Interventional radiologists are a dozen subspecialist doctors rolled into one," said Stainken.
According to the resolution, ACR "recognizes the importance of the development of a clinical service
by interventional radiologists in order to appropriately manage patients." ACR, which "opposes any
attempt to prohibit vascular and interventional radiologists from being granted admitting and other clinical
privileges based solely on their designation as radiologists," affirmed the importance of vascular and
interventional radiologists "establishing physician-patient relationships that are also customarily
maintained by other physicians who provide comparable services."
ACR encourages and supports the establishment of interventional radiology clinical services within the
practice of radiology groups, including establishment of an adequate clinical team; adequate space
dedicated for clinical visits; inpatient admitting service; dedicated time for seeing inpatients and patients in
a clinic; noninvasive vascular laboratory; clerical services for scheduling, insurance authorization and
billing of procedures and evaluation/management services; and support for time and materials for
promotional and educational efforts.
More information about the Society of Interventional Radiology, interventional radiologists and how to
find an interventional radiologist in your area can be found online at www.SIRweb.org.
Society of Interventional Radiology