If you are seeing more of your radiologist recently, it is not surprising. The practice of radiology is changing and the former denizens of the shadows are leaving their darkened corners to participate more actively in clinical decision making. Several important factors have contributed to this new face of radiology.
It has become impossible for the radiologist to be a passive member of the health care team, accepting patients who arrive for specific, predetermined studies. New and evolving imaging technology requires that the radiologist participate early in the imaging decision making. Physicians who were trained before 1975 are largely unfamiliar with the techniques, requirements, strengths, and weaknesses of diagnostic ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Structure and logical progression of the patient workup requires the radiologist's guidance in health team decisions to achieve the most effective and expeditious route to successful patient imaging.