The likely effects of radiologist extenders on radiology training.

Manpower shortages have led many radiologists to consider using radiologist extenders, and the American Society of Radiological Technologists and the ACR have responded by formulating the radiology assistant (RA) program. There is no doubt that the RA program is becoming a reality or that it can be a boon to radiologists and physician radiologist trainees in freeing up faculty members' time, freeing trainees from repetitive tasks, and providing limited instruction in RAs' areas of expertise. Patients will likely accept RAs and trainee physicians equally. A financial analysis of using residents and physician extenders in anesthesia suggests that residents may be a cheaper labor source in those institutions not at the cap for resident positions.