Relative value units: practical productivity measurement.

The relative value system of measuring productivity can be an effective measurement tool for radiology administrators if properly designed and implemented. Since the financial future of the health care industry continues to dominate both private and public agendas, qualitative measurements of health care delivery alone will not suffice. Even if the relative value system is not the ultimate panacea for evaluating productivity, it is at least one reasonable method of attempting to address the issue of quantitative measurement of radiology services. This article will introduce relative value units (RVUs) as a practical method of measuring productivity in the radiology department.