Our Diagnostic Imaging Areas Of Radiology Expertise
General Diagnostic Radiologists
All board certified radiologists are trained to practice general diagnostic radiology. Diagnostic radiologists can perform, read and analyze imaging exams used to evaluate patient health, assess disease, evaluate treatment results and consider treatment options.
Diagnostic radiologists are certified, trained and experienced in radiological diagnosis, nuclear radiology, diagnostic ultrasound, magnetic resonance, computed tomography, interventional procedures and other forms of radiant energy.
Subspecialization
All Radiology & Imaging radiologists, in conjunction with Baystate Medical Centers, further subspecialize in a particular body part of type of medical imaging. Subspecialized radiologists have either completed fellowship training in accredited programs at major medical institutions or had equivalent experience. Their education includes four years of medical school, five years of residency and one or two more years to subspecialize.
Why Subspecialties Are Important
You would advise someone to see a general practice physician if they were feeling a bit run down and lacked energy. But if the same person complained about severe chest pain, you would advice him or her to see a cardiac specialist. The same general principle holds true for radiologists.
A physician would refer a 50-year-old woman who has no symptoms of breast cancer for a screening mammogram with a general diagnostic radiologist. But if that same woman has a lump or abnormality in her breast, the physician would usually prefer that she see a breast imaging subspecialist. Subspecialization provides a higher degree of training, expertise and experience to handle every case—from routine findings to the most complicated diagnosis.