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FRS Membership
Dues |
Please contact the American College of Radiology Membership Services at (800) 347-7748 to pay your 2025 Florida Radiological Society membership dues. |
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| Meet Your 2024 - 2025 FRS Executive Committee |
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President
Juan Batlle, MD, FACR |
President Elect
Andrew Bowman, MD, PhD |
Treasurer
Edem Chen, MD |
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Secretary
James Banks, MD |
Past President
Laura Vallow, MD |
Radiation Oncology, Chair
Jennifer Peterson, MD |
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Letter from the Editor |
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At the heart of medicine lies empathy: the ability to see the world through our patients’ eyes, to feel their fears, and to stand with them through uncertainty. As medical doctors, our charge extends far beyond diagnosis and treatment. It is our duty to care, to listen, and to honor the full humanity of every individual who seeks our help. |
Empathy is not a soft skill; it’s an essential part of being human and a clinical imperative. It enhances communication and builds trust. Studies consistently show that empathetic communication leads to better patient outcomes, stronger therapeutic alliances, and greater adherence. For physicians, it also builds resilience and a sense of meaning in work helping to avoid burnout in a demanding profession.
It also reminds us that every patient is unique, shaped by a constellation of life experiences, backgrounds, and barriers. When our profession reflects the communities that we serve — across race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic background, language, and lived experience — we are better equipped to understand our patients' needs and eliminate disparities. Diverse teams are more innovative, collaborative, and responsive to complex challenges. An inclusive healthcare system is better equipped to recognize bias, close gaps in outcomes, and deliver appropriate, compassionate care.
As physicians, we are at our best not only when we heal, but when we listen, advocate, and lead the way for dignity, inclusion, and justice for our patients. We elevate the standard for everyone when the economically disadvantaged, socially marginalized, and chronically underserved people are able to access and benefit from high-value care. Health equity is the commitment to removing barriers and addressing the structural injustices that restrict access to healthcare. Society experiences greater prosperity, lower costs, fewer preventable crises, and more trust in the healthcare system when the most vulnerable among us are empowered to thrive.
Empathy, diversity, and equity are not optional ideals or forms of weakness. They are the very foundation of what it means to be a doctor, a citizen and an American. In a time when medicine is increasingly driven by data and technology, our most powerful tools are still human ones; when we lead with them, everyone wins.
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James Banks, MD
Secretary, FRS |
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FRS President's Message |
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The Florida Radiological Society is a team effort. As I wind down my year serving you as president, I reflect on all the help and collaboration that goes into making this state chapter great. I am grateful for the help from my co-officers, past-president, staff members at ESI, our committees and their leadership, and also to the general membership for their engagement, commitment, and support.
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The FRS presidency next year will be in the steady hands of Dr. Andrew Bowman, and I am grateful for the excellent line of succession within the chapter that ensures our future. I look forward to seeing all of you shortly at our annual meeting, and I give you my deepest thanks!
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Juan Batlle, MD, FACR
President, Florida Radiological Society
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FRBMA President's Message |
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Understanding wRVUs:
A Key to Productivity and
Physician Engagement
In the world of radiology practice management, few metrics are as critical—or as misunderstood—as the work Relative Value Unit (wRVU). For managers and physicians alike, grasping how wRVUs work, how they’re measured, and what they mean for productivity and compensation can help drive clarity, transparency, and alignment in an increasingly understaffed and efficiency-focused specialty. |
What Exactly Is a wRVU?
A wRVU is one component of the total RVU assigned to a CPT code under Medicare’s Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS). Each procedure or service is assigned a total RVU, which has three parts:
- Work RVU (wRVU) — captures the time, technical skill, mental effort, and judgment required of the physician.
- Practice Expense RVU (PE RVU) — covers overhead costs, equipment, and staff.
- Malpractice RVU (MP RVU) — accounts for professional liability insurance costs.
- Of these, the wRVU is the piece most closely linked to physician effort and is commonly used to measure individual productivity and calculate compensation in productivity-based or blended payment models.
How to Explain wRVUs to Physicians
Radiologists often feel distanced from the billing world, so a practical explanation can go a long way. Try this:
“Think of each study you read as having a relative weight that reflects how much effort it takes compared to others. The more complex and time-intensive the procedure, the higher its wRVU value. These units add up to give us a standardized measure of your work—regardless of payer mix or negotiated fees.”
For example, a basic single-view chest X-ray (CPT 71045) generates 0.18 wRVUs, while a brain MRI without contrast (CPT 70551) generates 1.48 wRVUs. An interventional procedure like a kyphoplasty (CPT 22513 or 22514 plus 22515 if applicable) can yield 8-12.65 wRVUs, depending on complexity.
Why wRVUs Matter for Managers and Radiologists
In a world where productivity and efficiency are non-negotiable, understanding wRVUs is key for aligning staffing, setting productivity benchmarks, and ensuring fair and competitive compensation plans. For example, comparing physicians’ wRVU output can highlight workflow inefficiencies, help identify under- or over-utilization, and inform discussions about hiring, teleradiology support, or scheduling optimization.
Moreover, with many radiology compensation models using a per-wRVU dollar rate, transparency is vital. When physicians see exactly how their work translates to wRVUs and, ultimately, to their paycheck, it builds trust and promotes more realistic expectations.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re renegotiating contracts, onboarding new radiologists, or making the case for additional FTEs, knowing your practice’s wRVU data and industry benchmarks gives you a solid foundation. In our overstretched specialty, every exam counts—and so does every wRVU.
Common Radiology Procedures:
If the productivity goal is 10 wRVUs per hour, that might look like this:
1 CT abd/pelv = 1.74
4 CT = 3.91
10 X-rays = 1.67
1 MRI = 1.48
2 US = 1.30
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Janene W. Markuske, MBA, FRBMA
President, FRBMA |
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Legislative Update |
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Happy July! After 105 days of legislative Session (which is usually 60 days) the legislature finally completed the session by passing the budget. The $115 billion dollar budget was sent to the Governor and he signed it into law on June 30th, vetoing $1.3 billion dollars.
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In the recently passed budget there are $1 billion in tax cuts to Florida businesses. They also made permanent the sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies and school supplies.
Very happy to have the 2025 legislative session in the rearview window.
Legislative committee meetings start in October and the 2026 Legislative Session starts January 13th and is scheduled to end March 13th.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming Annual Meeting of the FRS & FRBMA in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 11-13, 2025.
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Best,
Alison Dudley Lobbyist, FRS
AlisonDudley@dudleyandassociates.com |
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Announcing our New FRS Career Center |
The Florida Radiological Society is proud to announce its new and improved FRS Career Center - the premier resource to connect career opportunities with highly qualified radiology talent. The Career Center is designed to provide you with a better overall experience through a modern design and an intuitive interface. You will be able to access the Career Center through any device of your choice- smartphone, tablet, or desktop. To access FRS Career Center, visit: Careers.flrad.org
The FRS Career Center will allow you to:
Manage Your Career:
- Search and apply to the best radiology jobs at organizations that value your credentials!
- Upload your anonymous resume so employers can contact you, but you maintain control of your information and choose to whom you release your information.
- Receive an alert every time a job becomes available that matches your personal profile, skills, interests, and preferred location(s).
- Access career resources and job searching tips and tools.
Recruit for Open Positions:
- Post your jobs, or your organization’s jobs, where the most qualified radiology professionals will find and apply to them.
- Promote your jobs directly to Florida Radiological Society job seekers via our exclusive Job Flash email.
- Search the resume database and contact qualified candidates proactively.
- Expose your job postings to a larger audience through our NEW diversity, veterans and social networks.
Take a look & log on today at Careers.flrad.org
We hope this new career center will make a significant difference for our members as they navigate their career paths. Thank you for your ongoing support.
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Sincerely,
Executive Director
Florida Radiological Society
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Become A PAC Member Today |
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Attention FRBMA Members! Please support the cause. We encourage you to be PAC members and supporters; you do not have to belong to the FRS. Donations can be made online through our PAC website www.FLRADPAC.org. Thank you for your donation.
It is critical that we support both our Florida PAC and RADPAC in order to bolster our voice in Tallahassee and Washington, respectively. Please join FRS lobbyist Alison Dudley in her special appeal for all Florida radiologists to become Florida PAC members. If you would like to help FRS defend radiology against untoward legislation and introduce bills that have a positive impact on our practices, we need your financial support to re-elect our friends in the state House and Senate. The FRS can also show you simplified ways on how to sign up your radiology group. Contact Lorraine Roger at lroger@flrad.org or Alison Dudley at alisondudley@dudleyandassociates.com contact for more information. |
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Telephone (813) 806-1070
Fax (813) 806-1071
5620 W. Sligh Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33634 |
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| The E-Brief is an exclusive member benefit of Florida Radiological Society, delivering monthly member, chapter and industry news. Please do not reply to this automatic e-mail. For comments or questions about the E-Brief, please contact lroger@flrad.org. |
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