Outpatient vascular and interventional radiology practice from 2001-2008

Area of Science:

• Vascular Interventional Radiology
• Outpatient Practice Management
• Healthcare Operations

Background:

• Vascular interventional radiology (IR) services are increasingly being offered in outpatient settings.
• Establishing and quantifying the growth of such practices is crucial for resource allocation and service planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the patient volume, procedural numbers, and follow-up imaging orders within an established outpatient vascular IR practice.
• To assess the development and expansion of a vascular IR outpatient service over a defined period.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patient data from an outpatient vascular IR practice (2001-2008).
• Data collected included new and established patient visits, procedure types and counts, and ancillary imaging studies ordered.
• Analysis presented as mean ± standard deviation per physician per year and total counts.

Main Results:

• Patient encounters (new and established) demonstrated a significant upward trend, peaking in 2006.
• Abdominal aortogram with stent placement was the most frequent procedure, also showing peak volume in 2006.
• The number of ancillary imaging studies ordered per physician increased annually, reaching substantial numbers by 2006.

Conclusions:

• A successful outpatient vascular IR practice can be established and scaled within 3-5 years.
• The growth of outpatient IR services positively impacts downstream imaging orders within the radiology department.