The Evolving Role of the Radiologist: The Vancouver Workload Utilization Evaluation Study

作者：Dhanoa Deijit^*; Dhesi Tajinder S; Burton Kirsteen R; Nicolaou Savvas; Liang Teresa

来源：Journal of the American College of Radiology, 2013, 10(10): 764-769.

DOI：10.1016/j.jacr.2013.04.001

• Radiology
• workload
• quality assurance
• practice management
• telemedicine
• outsourced services
• clinical productivity

Purpose: The role of the present-day on-site hospital radiologist surpasses image interpretation related duties. This study characterizes these workload activities, as well as quantifies the type of value-based interactions radiologists experience on a daily basis with allied health personnel.
Materials and Methods: A prospective, observational, randomized study was performed across 3 hospitals in the fall of 2012. One month of observation of 14 staff radiologists was performed by a trained observer. The observer followed the subject radiologists throughout the workday, recording activities using a time and motion methodology.
Results: Radiologists spent 36.4% of their time on image interpretation. The proportion of noninterpretative tasks was 43.8%, which includes activities such as protocolling requisitions, supervising and monitoring studies, performing image-guided procedures, consulting with physicians, and directly caring for patients. Total clinical productivity was 87.7%, and radiologists experienced, on average, 6 interactions per hour with other health personnel, of which over 81.2% directly influenced patient care in real time.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates a new framework of characterizing the type of work radiologists perform on a daily basis, which helps further define the evolving role of the present-day radiologist to other physicians, administrators, and policy makers. Furthermore, the on-site added value that radiologists deliver suggests that radiologists are central figures in the medical imaging department who are difficult to replace by off-site or nonradiologist image interpreters.

• 出版日期2013-10