Radiology report turnaround time: effect on resident education

Rationale and objectives: To compare resident workload from Emergency Department (ED) studies before and after the implementation of a required 1-hour report turnaround time (TAT) and to assess resident and faculty perception of TAT on resident education.

Materials and methods: Resident study volume will be compared for 3 years before and 1 year after the implementation of a required 1-hour TAT. Changes to resident workload will be compared among the different radiology divisions (body, muscuolskeletal (MSK), chest, and neuro), as well as during different shifts (daytime and overnight). Residents and faculty at two Midwest institutions, both of which have a required report TAT, will be invited to participate in an online survey to query the perceived effect on resident education by implementation of this requirement. A P < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A significant decrease in resident involvement in ED studies was noted in the MSK, chest, and neuro sections with average involvement of the 3 years before the 1-hour TAT of 89%, 88%, and 82%, respectively, which decreased to 66%, 68%, and 51% after the 1-hour TAT requirement (P < .05). The resident involvement in ED studies only mildly decreased in the body section from an average before the 1-hour TAT of 87% to 80% after the 1-hour TAT requirement (P < .1). There was an overall significant decrease in resident ED study involvement during the daytime (P = .01) but not after hours during resident call (P = .1). Seventy percent of residents (43 of 61) and 55% of faculty (63 of 114) responded to our surveys. Overall, residents felt their education from ED studies during the daytime and overnight were good. However, residents who were present both before and after the implementation of a required TAT felt their education had been significantly negatively affected. Faculty surveyed thought that the required TAT negatively affected their ability to teach and decreased the quality of resident education.

Conclusions: Residents are exposed to fewer ED studies after the implementation of a required 1-hour TAT. Overall, the current residents do not feel this decreased exposure to Emergency room studies affects their education. However, residents in training before and after this requirement feel their education has been significantly affected. Faculty perceives that the required TAT negatively affects their ability to teach, as well as the quality of resident education.