Abstract
Purpose:The aim of this national survey was to assess the overall impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the provision of interventional radiology (IR) services in Canada.Methods:An anonymous electronic survey was distributed via national and regional radiology societies, exploring (1) center information and staffing, (2) acute and on-call IR services, (3) elective IR services, (4) IR clinics, (5) multidisciplinary rounds, (6) IR training, (7) personal protection equipment (PPE), and departmental logistics.Results:Individual responses were received from 142 interventional radiologists across Canada (estimated 70% response rate). Nearly half of the participants (49.3%) reported an overall decrease in demand for acute IR services; on-call services were maintained at centers that routinely provide these services (99%). The majority of respondents (73.2%) were performing inpatient IR procedures at the bedside where possible. Most participants (88%) reported an overall decrease in elective IR services. Interventional radiology clinics and multidisciplinary rounds were predominately transitioned to virtual platforms. The vast majority of participants (93.7%) reported their center had disseminated an IR specific PPE policy; 73% reported a decrease in case volume for trainees by at least 25% and a proportion of trainees will either have a delay in starting their careers as IR attendings (24%) or fellowship training (35%).Conclusion:The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on IR services in Canada, particularly for elective cases. Many centers have utilized virtual platforms to provide multidisciplinary meetings, IR clinics, and training. Guidelines should be followed to ensure patient and staff safety while resuming IR services.
Highlights
The novel human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created significant challenges for health care systems and disruptions in medical training globally.[1]
Specific recommendations have been published with respect to balancing the interventional care of oncology patients against the risk of COVID-19.4 As the rate of COVID-19 cases begins to decline in Canada, plans must be implemented at the national and local level to ensure nonurgent and elective interventional radiology (IR) services are restarted in a safe manner
Interventional radiology represented greater than 50% of the clinical practice for 76 (54%) participants, 20% to 50% for 47 (33%) participants, and less than 25% for 19 (13%) participants
Summary
The novel human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created significant challenges for health care systems and disruptions in medical training globally.[1] Health care organizations continue to reorient their services to prevent further spread of the disease with significant backlogs of rescheduled nonurgent or elective cases. Guidelines have been created by the Society of Interventional Radiology and the Canadian Association of Interventional Radiologists to protect public safety and interventional radiology (IR) teams, as well as to optimize resource utilization while providing essential health care services.[2,3] Specific recommendations have been published with respect to balancing the interventional care of oncology patients against the risk of COVID-19.4 As the rate of COVID-19 cases begins to decline in Canada, plans must be implemented at the national and local level to ensure nonurgent and elective IR services are restarted in a safe manner. It is important to learn where measures can be tightened or modified, given the possibility of a second or third wave of the pandemic. The aim of this national survey was to assess the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of IR services at both academic and community hospitals in Canada
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