Keywords:
Management, Computer applications, Professional issues, CT, MR, Ultrasound, Cost-effectiveness, Decision analysis, Efficacy studies, Education and training, Economics, Workforce
Authors:
D. M. Neeson1, P. B. devlin2; 1Belfast/UK, 2BT47 6SB/UK
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-1247
Conclusion
Radiologists should be aware of the potential risks with internal referrals and explore ways to secure better patient,
service and personal outcomes.
This study confirms that a significant proportion of our work is internally generated. Attention to the potential for poor communication and feedback is,
we feel,
important if we are to improve personal and service performance and patient outcomes.
Better communication with scanning staff and alterations to operational flows may be of benefit.
We feel that with each case comes a learning opportunity.
There was no documented evidence of feedback; it is,
however, accepted that the majority of feedback occurs with RIS messenger,
one-to-one interactions and at meetings (discrepancy or MDT).
There are no published standards for comparison in this area.
We have devised an action plan in the hope to improve these findings:
1. We have encouraged reporters to take ownership and measures to facilitate reporting of these studies.
If this were achieved it would likely lead to improved referral decisions,
diagnostic accuracy,
improve efficiency and reduce work load for the radiologist and the department.
2. Where self reporting is not possible,
we advise efforts to direct follow ups to the original instigator (especially for characterisation or further assessment).
3.
IT suppliers and radiologists should work to better support the communication and feedback issues that arise in the situation of internal radiology referrals.
4.
All available mechanisms for feedback should be employed to obtain the benefits mentioned above.