Overhaul the Antiquated Out-of-State Medical Licensure Bureaucracy
By Shella Farooki, M.D.
Radiologist
All-American Teleradiology
August 31, 2020
While national politicians and other governors are mired in partisan disputes, Governor Mike DeWine is rising above the fray to find evidence-based solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. As an Ohio doctor who works in our state and others, I applaud DeWine’s focus on saving lives. And I urge him to go further by renewing, expanding, and making permanent Executive Order 2020-01D before it expires in September to allow out-of-state physicians to practice without an Ohio license.
In May, DeWine signed Executive Order 2020-01D to allow nurses the emergency permission to start practicing medicine as soon as they get their licenses. The Executive Order also sped up the licensing process for out-of-state nurses for the duration of the pandemic. These measures helped get more medical personnel on the ground as COVID-19 spread. They strengthened Ohio’s medical facilities. And they proved that rescinding unnecessary licensing restrictions for another qualified class of medical professional – physicians – will improve Ohioans’ health and welfare.
The difference between current out-of-state physician licensing standards and those for nurses are night and day. As of this writing, licensed and qualified out-of-state physicians must go through a time-consuming and expensive process to become licensed. This government interference in the patient-physician relationship increases costs and decreases care in both normal times and emergencies. Meanwhile, nurses can get to work practically the same day on which they receive their license.
The reality is that complex licensing regimes aren’t practical even when there is no public health emergency. Making a fully-trained and qualified medical professional take yet another test won’t improve patient care, and refusing to recognize a qualification they earned in another state worsens patient care. Permanently expanding the emergency declarations for nurses to physicians would improve patient health, decrease patient costs, and create statewide consistency for medical professionals. And it would remove another layer of bureaucracy which separates us from our patients.
This isn’t a theoretical problem. I’ve been a physician for 20 years, half of that engaged in teleradiology, and I’m licensed to practice in 15 states. Despite my qualifications, I’ve been waiting for three months to get relicensed in Georgia because the state’s licensing bureaucracy keeps crossing threads with licensing bureaucracies in other states. If the COVID-19 hotspots spread, and Georgia needed physicians on short notice, I can’t help – even though telemedicine makes me available to any patient in any part of Georgia at virtually any time.
The same is true for an out-of-state physician coming to Ohio to help fight the pandemic.
From emergency occupational licensing rescissions to the announcement last week of an interstate testing pact, DeWine has proven that partisan politics takes a back seat to Ohioan’s safety. But emergencies don’t just happen when someone contracts a pandemic virus; for the average family, an emergency like a car accident or a heart attack could happen any day. Unfortunately, it’s been difficult for many Ohioans to see their primary care physician, let alone a specialist, throughout the past few months. We have to do everything we can to prevent an even more serious shortage of physicians in the future – the kind that turns a routine healthcare need into a crisis. Making it easier for physicians from other states to practice here would help us quickly scale responses to future emergencies, expand healthcare access, and reduce costs for families.
As the coronavirus continues to divide Americans on partisan lines, I urge Governor DeWine to act in the best interests of patients by renewing, expanding, and making permanent EO 2020-01D. It will help Ohio now and forevermore empower the best care through the best method: a strong patient-physician relationship.
Dr. Shella Farooki is a Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained radiologist specializing in musculoskeletal imaging. She resides in Dublin, Ohio, and provides interpretative consultations to physician practices throughout the United States via All-American Teleradiology.
All-American Teleradiology Expands Coverage in 4th Quarter of 2017
(Cleveland, Ohio) November 22, 2017 – All-American Teleradiology has added clients in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, bringing the number of states with clients of the fast growing business to 30. This growth includes providing supplementary coverage to a major academic institution anchoring a large hospital chain, based in the Midwest, but which provides care for patients from around the world. The growth comes at a time in which the medical industry faces a shortage of radiologists for the first time in many years.
“We are delighted with the growth.” Said All-American Teleradiology Chief Executive Officer Scott A. Pohlkamp. Our flexibility and wide range of coverage options are well-suited to address our fast changing industry.” Pohlkamp said the new clients will receive the same broad-based service All-American Teleradiology has provided since 2013.
“The core of our business is servicing imaging centers, hospitals and physician offices. Our hospital business is exclusively a partnership approach, working in coordination with our hospital clients to address their needs including sub-specialty daytime, evenings, vacation and some onsite coverage.” Pohlkamp said.
About All-American Teleradiology
All-American Teleradiology provides exceptional service with prompt turnaround of high quality, final diagnostic reports, and consultations with our team of U.S.-based and board certified diagnostic radiology specialists. We serve physician practices, outpatient imaging centers, hospital-based radiology groups, and urgent care and ambulatory surgery centers across the U.S. with an efficient and cost effective teleradiology solution. The modalities we support include: MRI, CT, PET, Mammography, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, and X-RAY. All-American Teleradiology provides final reads, over-reads, vacation coverage, peer review and a peer-to-peer business model for hospital-based radiology groups. Our cloud-based PACS, efficient workflow, and experienced support team ensures rapid deployment and easy integration into your operation and with other healthcare systems. Visit www.allamericanrad.com for more details, call 888-365-5514 or email info@allamericanrad.com.
All-American Teleradiology Expands Coverage to Europe with American Clinic in Tblisi
(Cleveland, Ohio ) January 12, 2016 – All-American Teleradiology now provides coverage worldwide with its relationship with the newly opened American Clinic in Tblisi, a telemedicine clinic that links Georgians to American physicians. The clinic was founded by U.S. based pediatrician George Katsitadze, M.D., a native of Tblisi, the capital of Georgia.
“Telemedicine is the wave of the future, utilizing the same principals we have used for years in teleradiology, leveraging technology to deliver medical expertise, stated All-American Teleradiology CEO Scott Pohlkamp. “We are excited to expand our teleradiology services to Europe, working with a first-class facility and the people of Georgia.”
The American Clinic in Tblisi provides contact with physician specialists in the United States via webcam with the assistance of a professional onsite staff. Radiology coverage is provided by All-American Teleradiology’s sub-specialty team of fellowship-trained radiologists. “We are proud to partner with All-American Teleradiology. They have a proven track record of delivering exceptional service,” said American Clinic in Tblisi medical director and founder, Dr. Katsitadze.
Licensed in all 50 states and with the capability to provide coverage worldwide, All-American Teleradiology provides subspecialty radiology interpretations to clinics, physician practices, outpatient imaging centers and hospital-based radiology groups across the United States and now Europe.
About American Clinic in Tblisi
The American Clinic in Tblisi provides telemedicine service that is interactive healthcare, utilizing modern technology and telecommunications. Their board certified, U.S. based physicians consult with patients and provide second opinions on a wide variety of health conditions. American Clinic in Tblisi is the official partner of Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic laboratory and pathology services; Diatherix Laboratories, the leader of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) laboratory technology; and All-American Teleradiology. Visit americanclinicintbilisi.ge for further information.
About All-American Teleradiology
All-American Teleradiology provides exceptional service with prompt turnaround of high quality, final diagnostic reports, and consultations with our team of U.S.-based and board certified diagnostic radiology specialists. We serve physician practices, outpatient imaging centers, hospital-based radiology groups, and urgent care and ambulatory surgery centers across the U.S. with an efficient and cost effective teleradiology solution. The modalities we support include: MRI, CT, PET, Mammography, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, and X-RAY. All-American Teleradiology provides final reads, over-reads, vacation coverage, peer review and a peer-to-peer business model for hospital-based radiology groups. Our cloud-based PACS, efficient workflow, and experienced support team ensures rapid deployment and easy integration into your operation and with other healthcare systems. Visit www.allamericanrad.com for more details, call 888-365-5514 or email info@allamericanrad.com.
All-American Teleradiology Grows Ten-fold in 2014
All-American Teleradiology Reflects on 2014 Success and Highlights 2015 Growth Initiatives
(Bay Village, OH) January 23 – All-American Teleradiology, a provider of final subspecialty radiology interpretations, today reflects on 2014, a year in which the company achieved record growth and expanded service offerings to meet customer needs.
All-American Teleradiology grew ten-fold in 2014 with expansion into 19 states and secured a number of new client partnerships. Growth was also attributed to the launch of new services, which included digital breast imaging reading services as well as night time/ER coverage (preliminary and final reports) for 24/7/365 coverage. All-American Teleradiology was recognized by Radiology Business Journal as one of the country’s 20 largest teleradiology service providers of the year.
“Our success in 2014 demonstrates the ongoing demand for quality-focused, collaborative, and remote radiology services,” said Scott Pohlkamp, Chief Executive Officer of All-American Teleradiology. “We deliver our services as efficiently as possible to meet the needs of healthcare’s continued challenges and pressures,” adds Pohlkamp.
The teleradiology practice will continue its growth in 2015 with plans to expand internationally, and by adding academic institutions to its client portfolio. All-American Teleradiology will also grow its collaborative network of local radiology practices, for which it provides reading services, coverage capacity, and new business to the groups from outside of their local market.
All-American Teleradiology serves an array of healthcare organizations including imaging centers, hospitals, health clinics and orthopedic practices across the U.S. Its suite of services include 24/7/365 coverage, vacation and interim coverage, both on-site and teleradiology. All-American Teleradiology’s team of radiologists are board certified, and U.S. based with extensive experience in MR, CT, Ultrasound, Mammography, Nuclear Medicine and X-Ray studies.
All-American Teleradiology Launches Telemammography Services
All-American Teleradiology Launches Telemammography Services
Partners with Women’s Imaging Associates, Birmingham, AL
(Bay Village, OH) May 25 – All-American Teleradiology announces a strategic partnership with Women’s Imaging Associates of Birmingham, Alabama to provide digital breast imaging reading services including telemammography to complement its expanded 24/7/365 coverage.
“Our radiology practice customers requested a full-service telemammography program, so we reached out to this fabulous organization to provide the best coverage possible,” says Scott Pohlkamp, chief executive officer of All-American Teleradiology.
Women’s Imaging Associates is a group of five dedicated MQSA certified, board certified breast imaging experts providing coverage for 2D and 3D mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and obstetrical and pelvic ultrasound. Founded in 2009, Women’s Imaging Associates has interpreted over 150,000 mammograms for rural hospitals, multi-specialty clinics and OB-GYN offices nationwide.
“We are thrilled to be the breast imaging team for All-American Teleradiology,” explains Caroline Reich, M.D., president of Women’s Imaging Associates. “They are a first-rate provider with a high level of integrity, quality service and technology, and happy customers,” adds Reich.
All-American Teleradiology provides subspecialty radiology interpretations, and has also recently added nighttime/ER coverage (preliminary and final reports) in order to meet customer needs. Radiology Business Journal named it one of the country’s 20 largest teleradiology service providers.
All-American Teleradiology Partners with Diagnostic Partners
All-American Teleradiology Partners with Diagnostic Partners
Expands Ultrasound Teleradiology to Include Echocardiography and Stress-echo
(Bay Village, OH) September 6, 2013 – All-American Teleradiology announces a strategic partnership with Los Angeles-based Diagnostic Partners, to provide a full range of professional cardiac ultrasound reading services, including echocardiography and stress-echo.
“The ultrasound market demands not only the skills of experienced radiologists, but also the cardiology expertise that Diagnostic Partners brings,” explains Scott Pohlkamp, chief executive officer of All-American Teleradiology.
Diagnostic Partners is comprised of Board Certified Cardiologists with Class III standing, and collectively is licensed to practice throughout the United States.
“We see great value in working with All-American Teleradiology,” explained Joshua Penn, M.D., FACC, managing partner of Diagnostic Partners. “We each utilize advanced technology to provide high quality, remote and specialized interpretation services for our customers,” adds Penn.
All-American Teleradiology provides subspecialty radiology interpretations, and will continue to expand its teleleradiology services to support the needs of its customers, which include: physician practices, outpatient imaging centers, hospital radiology groups and urgent care centers across the United States.
All-American Teleradiology Grows its Client Base
All-American Teleradiology Grows its Client Base
Demand driven by desire for value-added, high-tech client services.
(Bay Village, OH) June 4, 2013 – All-American Teleradiology announces it has added six clients since the beginning of the year. Clients include physician practices and imaging centers located in North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.
Many of All-American Teleradiology’s clients are challenged with staffing optimization, and decreasing insurance reimbursements. They are looking to their vendors for options to help them take some of the workload pressure off of their staff in order to focus on patient care.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest in the many value-added services we offer such as assistance with patient positioning, MRI accreditation, marketing and coding,” says Scott Pohlkamp, CEO of All-American Teleradiology.
All-American Teleradiology employs experienced MRI technologists with expertise in clinical applications, positioning and accreditation to help our clients with the accreditation process.
Declining reimbursements are driving the need for MRI sites to fill their schedules more now then ever. The All-American Teleradiology team has decades of experience in marketing strategy and proven tactics to help our clients keep their equipment booked, as well as code the procedures properly and ensure the MRI reports are structured appropriately for reimbursement.
“Workflow efficiency and staff experience are paramount, and enable us to provide a high level of customer service, ” adds Pohlkamp.
Peter L. Glickman, M.D., Joins All-American Teleradiology
Peter L. Glickman, M.D., Joins All-American Teleradiology
Brings Musculoskeletal and Foot and Ankle Imaging Expertise to Growing Radiology Team
(Bay Village, OH) May 2, 2013 – All-American Teleradiology announces Peter L. Glickman, M.D., has joined its team of subspecialty radiologists. After completing a National Institute of Health-funded Musculoskeletal Imaging Fellowship at Brigham and Womens Hospital in 2005, his career has concentrated on advanced musculoskeletal imaging interpretation for private practices in Philadelphia and Manhattan, as well as national subspecialty teleradiology companies serving numerous hospitals, specialty clinics and professional sports teams. He also teaches foot and ankle imaging at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Glickman specializes in multi-modality diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders and internal derangements of joints related to sports medicine, trauma, rheumatology, and orthopedic oncology. He has a special expertise in the small joints of the extremities, and has delivered numerous educational and research presentations. He currently serves on the Education Committee for the Society of Skeletal Radiology.
“Dr. Glickman brings tremendous expertise in musculoskeletal and small joint imaging, especially the foot and ankle, which will be a great benefit to our clients,” says Scott Pohlkamp, chief executive officer of All-American Teleradiology. “We are delighted to have him as member of our team,” adds Pohlkamp.
In addition to his clinical responsibilities Dr. Glickman will provide insight and best practices for clients through articles and lectures posted on the All-American Teleradiology website.
Peter L. Glickman, MD, graduated from Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania and received his MD from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Glickman completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is a member of the Radiological Society of North America, the American Roentgen Ray Society, the Society of Skeletal Radiology, and the American College of Radiology.
All-American Teleradiology will continue to grow its team of subspecialty radiologists in 2013 to support the demand for its teleradiology services.