The radiologist's workflow environment: evaluation of disruptors and potential implications

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging & Diagnostics
• Health Care Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Workflow interruptions are a known cause of medical errors in healthcare settings like nursing and operating rooms.
• The impact of interruptions on physician workflow is well-documented in various medical fields.
• However, the specific challenges faced by diagnostic radiology, particularly on-call radiologists, remain less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the frequency and nature of interruptions experienced by on-call radiologists.
• To examine the potential implications of these interruptions on patient safety.
• To assess the overall impact on clinical care within diagnostic radiology.

Main Methods:

• Initial efforts to quantify interruption frequency in on-call radiology workflow.
• Analysis of communication modes contributing to disruptions (e.g., telephone calls).
• Examination of the relationship between interruptions and patient safety metrics.

Main Results:

• On-call radiologists experience significant workflow disruptions.
• Telephone calls are a primary source of interruption for on-call radiologists.
• The study lays the groundwork for understanding the link between these interruptions and patient care outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Interruptions pose a considerable challenge to the workflow of on-call radiologists.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact on patient safety and clinical outcomes.
• Addressing interruptions may be crucial for enhancing care quality in diagnostic radiology.