On Nov. 27, the official opening day of RSNA 2012, the radiology-focused annual conference of the Oak Brook, Ill.-based Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), RSNA and the Orem, Ut.-based KLAS Research released the results of a collaborative survey of radiologists around meaningful use issues.

The RSNA-KLAS survey of 216 radiologists found that, while 60 percent of those physicians either plan to or are considering participating in meaningful use fully, 40 percent are concerned either about the lack of clarity in meaningful use guidelines or about decreased efficiency as a result of adopting current MU guidelines.

Given the confusion that has prevailed among physicians generally regarding meaningful use, it’s not surprising that only 6 percent of those surveyed considered themselves to be educated regarding MU.

As a result, Emily Crane, KLAS research director and author of the report, entitled “Radiologists’ Take on Meaningful Use: A KLAS-RSNA Report,” said in a statement issued with the report’s release, “These numbers should be a wake-up call for the radiology industry. Most radiologists are eligible providers,” she noted in that statement, “meaning that if they meet MU criteria by the deadline, they are eligible for some or all of the $44,000 incentive. In addition,” she pointed out, “those who do not meet the criteria by 2015 will be hit with penalties. Getting educated and involved with meaningful use can’t wait.”

Among those surveyed, survey respondents said they felt that radiation dose-tracking and patient engagement were the least beneficial criteria for them, while in follow-up interviews, radiologists indicated that while they feel patients have a right to their images and reports, there was no apparent medical benefit or necessity for them to have electronic access to those images and reports.