Radiology work-load measurements reflecting variables specific to hospital, patient, and examination: results of a...

The authors coordinated the efforts of 44 hospitals in the United States to develop average times required for technologists to perform each of 19 radiologic examinations. When applicable, the overall average times were compared with extant Canadian work-load statistics. In six of the 14 examinations for which Canadian standards exist, the average times differed by 25% or more. The data were further analyzed to adjust time estimates for the effects of different hospital characteristics (e.g., number of beds, teaching status), patient characteristics (e.g., ambulation, outpatient status), and examination characteristics (e.g., number of views, resident involvement). The key factors and the magnitude of their effects varied from examination to examination, but the effects were generally large enough to have managerial significance. The factors can be evaluated by individual hospitals to produce customized estimates of average examination times. The data presented in this report can be used in management control systems by radiology departments in hospitals of varying sizes and teaching characteristics.