Radiologists Include Contact Telephone Number in Reports: Experience With Patient Interaction.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Communications
• Patient Engagement

Background:

• Patient portals increase access to radiology reports.
• Radiologist contact information is increasingly included in reports.
• The impact of direct patient-radiologist communication is under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the experiences of radiologists who provide contact information in radiology reports.
• To assess the frequency and nature of patient-initiated contact.
• To understand the impact of patient interaction on radiologist workflow and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, anonymous online survey was administered to 61 radiologists in a private practice.
• The survey included 21 questions regarding the inclusion of contact information and subsequent patient interactions.
• Data from 53 respondents (87% completion rate) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• 78% of radiologists include their phone number in reports most of the time.
• 36% of radiologists are contacted by patients annually, and 27% monthly.
• Most radiologists found patient interactions satisfying, beneficial for report understanding, and did not report negative workflow impacts.

Conclusions:

• Including radiologist contact information in reports enhances patient-radiologist interaction.
• Increased patient interaction is generally viewed positively by radiologists, fostering satisfaction.
• Radiologists are open to and welcome more direct communication with patients regarding their reports.