Volume 4,Issue 3
Study on the Application Value of Teleradiology in Primary-Level Imaging Services Under the Medical Alliance Model
Background: Primary health care (PHC) is a fundamental component of achieving universal health coverage (UHC). However, in many resource-limited settings, primary health care institutions still face problems such as underutilization of medical imaging equipment, a shortage of professional imaging personnel, and insufficient patient recognition of the diagnostic and therapeutic capacity of primary care. As a result, there is a clear mismatch between the diagnostic service capacity of primary care and residents' medical needs. The uneven allocation of imaging resources further limits the functioning of the primary health system. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore sustainable models that rely on digital technology to enhance primary-level imaging service capacity, optimize the allocation of medical resources, and strengthen trust in primary care. Methods: This study conducted a cross-sectional empirical study based on a multi-stakeholder survey in southwestern China from January 2025 to January 2026. The study covered 59 primary health care institutions and obtained 118 valid questionnaires, including primary health care institution administrators (n=55) and primary care clinicians (n=63). Imaging quality control indicators were also incorporated for comprehensive evaluation. Guided by health service supply-demand theory and medical trust theory, the study constructed an analytical framework of “improving service supply—enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic quality—reshaping trust relationships” to systematically evaluate the impact of teleradiology implementation on primary-level imaging service capacity and medical quality. Results: The survey showed that the shortage of imaging professionals in primary health care institutions was prominent. Among primary health care institution administrators, 85.5% (47/55) reported a shortage of radiology professionals. Primary care physicians were highly dependent on imaging examinations to assist diagnosis and treatment. The proportion of imaging examination needs for common diseases reached 84.1%–98.4% (acute abdomen 93.7%, pneumonia and pneumothorax 96.8%, fracture 98.4%, stroke 98.4%, myocardial infarction 84.1%). However, only 4.8% (3/63) of primary care physicians believed that primary care institutions had strong independent imaging diagnostic capacity. After the application of teleradiology, the imaging diagnostic concordance rate increased from 58.3% to 91.7%, and the missed diagnosis rate decreased from 12.4% to 2.1%. In addition, 96.4% (53/55) of primary care administrators reported that teleradiology promoted an increase in the number of patient visits, and 92.9% (59/63) of primary care physicians recognized the quality of remote imaging reports. Conclusion: Teleradiology helps alleviate the shortage of primary-level imaging resources and promotes the improvement of primary-level imaging service capacity by enhancing diagnostic support capacity, optimizing service supply, and strengthening medical trust. Based on empirical data from southwestern China, this study provides a reference for digital technology empowering the development of the primary health system and optimizing the allocation of imaging resources.
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