Subspecialized radiological reporting reduces radiology report turnaround time

Andreas Otto Josef Zabel,Juerg Hodler,Simon Wildermuth,Tobias Johannes Dietrich,Sebastian Leschka

doi:10.1186/s13244-020-00917-z

Andreas Otto Josef Zabel, Juerg Hodler + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-020-00917-z

Copy DOI

Abstract

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to compare the radiology report turnaround time (RTAT) between decentralized/modality-based and centralized/subspecialized radiological reporting at a multi-center radiology enterprise.MethodsRTAT values for MRI, CT, and conventional radiography were compared between decentralized/modality-based (04 September 2017–22 December 2017) and centralized/subspecialized radiology (03 September 2018–21 December 2018) reporting grouped into three subspecializations (body radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, and neuroradiology) at eleven sites of a multi-center radiology enterprise. For the objective of this investigation, hospitals were defined as major and minor hospitals. The Mann-Whitney U test served for statistical analyses.ResultsChange of reporting system from decentralized/modality-based to centralized/subspecialized radiology resulted overall in a significant decrease of the RTAT: from 82 to 77 min for the first signature (p < 0.001), and 119 to 107 min and 295 to 238 min for the second signature (p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses demonstrate a significant decrease of the RTAT for MRI reports (e.g., second signature RTAT, 1051 to 401 min; p < 0.001) and conventional radiographs (e. g., second signature RTAT, 278 to 171 min; p < 0.001). The RTAT at major hospitals decreased from 288 to 245 min (second signature; p < 0.001) while the corresponding RTAT of minor hospitals decreased more remarkably, from 300 to 198 min (p < 0.001). However, the results were heterogenous; in some analyses, the RTAT even increased. The effect size analyses represent small effects.ConclusionsChange of reporting system from decentralized/modality-based to centralized/subspecialized radiology was associated with a significant decreased RTAT. Specifically, the RTAT for MRI reports and conventional radiographs was significantly reduced. A pronounced RTAT decrease was observed at minor hospitals.

Highlights

Neuroradiology and pediatric radiology are established subspecializations within the radiology community
Thereby most of the radiologists were transferred to the main hospital and subspecialization groups were formed while a small number of radiologists remained at the other radiological sites for modality-specific problems and on-site services such as interaction with patients and staff at the hospitals
We hypothesized that changing the reporting system from general to subspecialized radiological reporting associated with centralization of radiologists reduces the radiology report turnaround time (RTAT)

Summary

Introduction

Neuroradiology and pediatric radiology are established subspecializations within the radiology community. Radiologists were sent to each of the radiological sites and worked in the hospitals using the radiology information system (RIS) for reporting. Thereby most of the radiologists were transferred to the main hospital and subspecialization groups were formed while a small number of radiologists remained at the other radiological sites for modality-specific problems and on-site services such as interaction with patients and staff at the hospitals. All imaging studies were divided into different subspecializations and mainly reported by the radiologists within the individual group. We hypothesized that changing the reporting system from general to subspecialized radiological reporting associated with centralization of radiologists reduces the radiology report turnaround time (RTAT)

Objectives

Methods

Results