Creating a patient-centered imaging service: determining what patients want

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Patient Communication
• Healthcare Delivery

Background:

• Patient preferences for receiving medical information are crucial for satisfaction.
• Current practices in communicating imaging results may not align with patient expectations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine patient preferences for the method, source, and timing of receiving imaging results.
• To identify potential areas for improvement in patient communication strategies.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to outpatients at an academic medical center.
• Data collected on preferences for how, from whom, and how soon results are received.
• Analysis of responses from 129 patients undergoing CT and MRI scans.

Main Results:

• 95% of patients desired results within hours.
• Patients prioritized speed, with 33% preferring the fastest method for normal results and 26% for abnormal results.
• No strong preference for the physician communicating results; speed was often paramount.

Conclusions:

• Patient demand for rapid communication of imaging results exceeds current practices.
• A revised communication model is necessary to optimize patient satisfaction.