How can patients receive more consistent interventional radiology care amid a national shortage of IR physicians? That question led Dr. Rick Daniels to develop a new outpatient practice model centered on recruiting independent IRs to provide long-term, fractional coverage for groups in need. In this episode of the BackTable Podcast hosted by Dr. Aaron Fritts, Dr. Daniels outlines the thinking behind this approach and how it aims to expand access to IR services in outpatient settings.

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SYNPOSIS

The conversation examines the evolving landscape of IR practice, including the challenges associated with transitioning between practice settings and building sustainable outpatient service lines. Dr. Daniels walks through the development of his model, with particular attention to identifying and supporting outpatient embolization opportunities. The discussion also explores the consortium-style structure for independent IRs, emphasizing long-term alignment, professional autonomy, and scalability at a national level. Operational considerations such as technology partnerships, documentation workflows, and targeted marketing strategies offer a practical look at what it takes to make this model work.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction
03:49 - Evolution of an Independent IR Practice
05:30 - Challenges and Opportunities in Outpatient IR
09:58 - Building Service Lines and Marketing Strategies
18:34 - Forming a National IR Group
25:21 - Balancing Business and Healthcare
25:37 - Evaluating and Correcting Site Performance
28:16 - Expanding Geographical Reach
30:45 - Recruitment and Retention Challenges
38:07 - The Importance of Tech-Doc Teams
42:35 - Future Goals and Recruitment Efforts
45:58 - Conclusion