Advocating for Radiology.
ASR advocates for radiologists on key provincial issues like physician fees and working with government and national partners to protect members' interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
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ASR is a not-for-profit organization representing radiologists in Alberta, advocating for high standards in radiology services to ensure excellent patient care.
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Radiology involves imaging techniques like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds. Radiologists are specialists who interpret these images, diagnose conditions, and advise doctors on treatment plans. They also perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures like biopsies and angioplasties.
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Radiologists detect serious health issues early, saving lives by providing accurate diagnoses and guiding treatment decisions. Their expertise is crucial for diagnosing and treating conditions, and they perform procedures to reduce pain and treat various diseases.
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Alberta's 487 licensed Radiologists work in both hospitals and over 125 community clinics. These clinics handle around 6.5 million tests annually, offering fast, accessible, and high-quality imaging services. The majority of these tests are performed within the public system, supported by a network of over 600 imaging installations.
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Community clinics perform about 15,000 diagnostic imaging procedures every weekday, reducing wait times and easing the burden on hospitals. These clinics are staffed by highly trained professionals and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring patients receive timely and accurate diagnoses.
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Radiology clinics are funded through Alberta Health Services, with 70-74% of fees going towards the costs of staff, equipment, and facility maintenance. A report by MNP found that for every dollar earned in fees, approximately 70 cents go to covering overhead costs, leaving only 30 cents for the Radiologist. Gross payments to Radiologists listed in the "Sunshine List" are not equivalent to their take-home pay but are largely used to cover these high operating costs.
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Alberta's Radiologists undergo 14-15 years of post-secondary training to become specialists. They work in both community clinics and hospitals, providing essential diagnostic services 24/7.
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96% of patients report satisfaction with their experience at community radiology clinics, which provide high standards of care in a welcoming environment.
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Radiologists uncover and treat serious health issues with high accuracy, minimizing pain, risk, and recovery time. Their expertise is crucial for the effective functioning of modern healthcare.
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Over 90% of Canadians value the work of Radiologists and are familiar with their role. Additionally, a majority support more research into AI in radiology and believe Canada should invest in more advanced medical imaging equipment.
Resources for Radiologists
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Who Are Radiologists Infographic
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Study on Radiologists Overhead Costs
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Study on Patient Value of Radiologists
