Materia Medica Malaysiana

Forbes.com:Radiology NightHawks

With the rise of telemedicine, I think certain medical practices will change. Radiologists' jobs may be threatened. Those less skilfull may see their services overwhekmed by reports from others.

---

"Radiology is becoming totally electronic," says Trefelner at the end of one of his all-night, 12-hour shifts. "And people no longer want to take the call because they're burned out. At one time radiologists got one or two calls a night, but now they're getting six, ten, 12 studies a night." For liability purposes, a "nighthawk," which is what people such as Trefelner have been dubbed, reads a study (such as a CT scan, MRI or ultrasound) that has been performed elsewhere and the radiologist who hired the nighthawk generally must read the same study the next day.

There are only about five nighthawk companies in the U.S. so far, but many more are opening up overseas, especially in countries with a good number of English speakers, such as Australia, Malaysia, India, Israel and South Africa. Trefelner's outfit is unusual in that he and his employees are all based in the U.S.; other companies send American radiologists overseas to work hours when U.S. clients are sleeping.