CAN ACADEMIC RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENTS BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND COST LESS

PURPOSE: To determine how successful two large academic radiology depa rtments have been in responding to market-driven pressures to reduce c osts and improve productivity by downsizing their technical and suppor t staffs while maintaining or increasing volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS : A longitudinal study was performed in which benchmarking techniques were used to assess the changes in cost and productivity of the two de partments for 5 years (fiscal years 1992-1996). Cost per relative valu e unit and relative value units per full-time equivalent employee were tracked. RESULTS: Substantial cost reduction and productivity enhance ment were realized as linear improvements in two key metrics, namely, cost per relative value unit (decline of 19.0% [decline of $7.60 on a base year cost of $40.00] to 28.8% [$12.18 of $42.21]; P less than or equal to .061) and relative value unit per full-time equivalent employ ee (increase of 46.0% [increase of 759.55 units over a base year produ ctivity of 1,651.45 units] to 55.8% [968.28 of 1,733.97 units]; P < .0 01), during the 5 years of study. CONCLUSION: Academic radiology depar tments have proved that they can ''do more with less'' over a sustaine d period.