The relationship of clinical and academic productivity in a university hospital radiology department

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between clinical and academic productivity over a 2-year period in a university hospital radiology department. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Clinical productivity, as determined by the number of total professional relative value units generated, was compared with academic productivity, which was determined by the number of published peer-reviewed articles, published non-peer-reviewed articles, published abstracts, and presentations delivered by each full-time clinical faculty member. The relationships of age, academic rank, administrative position, and division within the department were also assessed for their effect on relative value units and academic productivity. RESULTS. We found a significant inverse relationship between relative value units and the number of published peer-reviewed articles, published abstracts, and presentations. Age, academic rank, and administrative responsibilities had no effect on the number of relative value units. Faculty in the neuroradiology and cardiovascular-interventional radiology divisions generated more relative value units than did other faculty members. CONCLUSION. Faculty members with higher levels of clinical productivity showed significantly lower levels of academic productivity. This finding is consistent with the idea that increases in the clinical workload may diminish research output.