The German Roentgen Society (DRG) and the Professional Association of German Radiologists (BDR) have entered into a strategic partnership.
In a recent interview published by the DRG, the presidents of the two organizations, BDR's Prof. Dr. Hermann Helmberger and DRG's Prof. Dr. Konstantin Nikolaou, pledged closer cooperation.
President of the Professional Association of German Radiologists Prof. Dr. Hermann Helmberger (left) and President of the German Roentgen Society Prof. Dr. Konstantin Nikolaou (right). Photo courtesy of German Roentgen Society.
Helmberger said the joint approach applies to all issues that affect the field of radiology and comes as medical care in Germany faces the "biggest restructuring in decades."
Among the issues confronting the DRG and BDR include the adding coronary CTA in standard care, the planned introduction of lung cancer screening, outpatient and emergency care reform projects, reform of specialist qualifications in radiation protection, and changes to licensing regulations and medical training, Helmberger also said.
Nikolaou added that the DRG will take on an important role in the coming months when it comes to negotiating billing modalities and quality assurance for the new service of coronary CTA in standard care.
"The foreseeable changes in the framework conditions of our work affect both the inpatient and the outpatient sector," Nikolaou elaborated. "We do not need to reinvent our cooperation, but we are now setting the course for further intensification." And, Nikolaou said, "it will be crucial that we position ourselves better as a diagnostic, but also as a therapeutic discipline."
Read the full interview here.
