More articles from Practice Perspectives
- Critical Findings: Timing of Notification in Neuroradiology
These authors attempted to determine the time between identification of a critical finding and verbal communication with the primary caregiver. Ninety-one critical findings identified by trainees and attending physicians were analyzed. The mean time from study acquisition to critical finding discovery was 62 minutes and from then to a telephone call was 3.7 minutes (direct caregiver communication within 15 minutes for 94% of cases). During night or weekend shifts, mean notification times increased and sources of delay were inaccurate contact information, physician unavailability (shift change/office closed), patient transfer to a different service, or lack of responsiveness from caregivers.
- Effect of Direct Neuroradiologist Participation in Physician Marketing on Imaging Volumes in Outpatient Radiology
This study assessed the benefits of using a sales representative and a neuroradiologistas a marketing and sales team for referrals in outpatient imaging. When referring practices were visited by the 2-person team, referral volumes were 2.5 times greater than when they were visited by the sales representative alone. This impact on imaging referral volumes with the use of the neuroradiologist for direct physician-to-physician marketing supports the concept that neuroradiologist visits are important in establishing and maintaining a relationship with the referring clinician's office and maximizing imaging referrals.
- Attitudes about Medical Malpractice: An American Society of Neuroradiology Survey
An email survey yielded over 900 responses from neuroradiologists with regard to their experiences and attitudes about the medicolegal environment. Nearly one-half of neuroradiologists had been sued once, while over 10% had been sued more than 3 times with payouts in the range of US $50,000–$150,000 and up to $1.2 million for lawsuits affecting interventional neuroradiologists. Over 80% of neuroradiologists opined that the system was weighted toward plaintiffs and nearly 20% expressed being extremely concerned about being sued.
- Neuroradiology Critical Findings Lists: Survey of Neuroradiology Training Programs
These authors questioned neuroradiology fellowship programs about the availability of “critical findings” lists and, if available, how these are distributed to trainees and whether they were vetted by corresponding clinical departments. Over one-half of programs responded and 41% had such lists. The lists were distributed during orientation, sent or made available electronically, and posted in work areas. Less than 25% of lists were developed with input from other departments. The most common entities found in the lists were: brain hemorrhage, acute stroke, cord compression, brain herniation, and spine fracture.