What is a Radiologist?

Radiologists are doctors who are trained in diagnosing and/or treating diseases and injuries using medical imaging procedures like x-rays, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), and more. Certified and licensed radiologists have completed a minimum of 13 years of education, including pre-medical school (4 years), undergraduate medical school (4 years), and residency (5 years).

Many radiologists have also completed a fellowship of 1-2 additional years of residency to pursue subspecialty areas of focus, allowing them to concentrate on single body parts/diseases through clinical work and research. Examples of these subspecialties include breast imaging, cardiovascular radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, and more.

Radiologists quite often play an integral role in the diagnosis and direction of patient care. To be sure, nearly every patient in a hospital will find him or herself subject to radiology imaging during his or her stay, while a large volume of outpatients also maintains ongoing interaction with medical imaging, particularly those with musculoskeletal injuries and cancer.

In decades past, radiologists rarely interacted with patients, as their time was spent in a dark room while they analyzed patients’ medical images. Radiology Group’s radiologists make a conscious effort to play an even greater integral role in the patient care continuum, beyond diagnosing and monitoring conditions. Instead of passing the onus back to referring physicians, RG physicians apply their extensive expertise to provide an enhanced level of care that includes ordering required testing, calling patients with results, and making surgical referrals when necessary. This additional level of attention is uncommon for many radiology practices, but Radiology Group prides itself on leveraging its collective knowledge and exceptional service for the greater good of our patient population in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.