Correlation among on-call resident study volume, discrepancy rate, and turnaround time

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Increasing imaging utilization and remote viewing prompt consideration of outsourced attending interpretations for on-call resident preliminary reports.
• This is often driven by perceived benefits in faster interpretation times and lower discrepancy rates, particularly during high study volumes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze on-call resident preliminary radiology reports at a high-volume academic trauma center.
• To determine if a statistical correlation exists between study volume, discrepancy rate, and interpretation turnaround time.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 1133 on-call computed tomography and ultrasound studies from January to June 2008.
• Blinded staff radiologists assessed discrepancies between preliminary and final reports.
• Correlation analysis was performed between study volume per shift, discrepancy rate, and interpretation time.

Main Results:

• A major discrepancy rate of 1.85% and an average turnaround time of 28.5 minutes were observed.
• The correlation coefficient between major discrepancy rate and study volume was 0.35.
• The correlation coefficient between interpretation time and study volume was 0.29.

Conclusions:

• No significant correlation was found between on-call resident study volume, discrepancy rate, and interpretation turnaround time.
• The observed discrepancy rate is comparable to other published studies.
• Institutions should evaluate their specific volume and resident performance before implementing supplemental outsourced interpretations to preserve resident educational experiences.