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Workload for radiologists during on-call hours: dramatic increase in the past 15 years
1Department of Radiology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Henri Dunantstraat 5, 6419 PC, Heerlen, The Netherlands. rikbruls@gmail.com.
Insights Into Imaging
|November 23, 2020
Summary
Radiologist workload during on-call hours has quadrupled over 15 years, driven by a significant rise in computed tomography (CT) scans. Workforce planning is crucial to manage this increasing demand and ensure patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Investigating radiologist workload during on-call periods.
- Quantifying a 15-year trend in a large Western European hospital.
- Assessing changes in imaging study volume and complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the trend in on-call radiologist workload from 2006 to 2020.
- To identify the types of imaging studies contributing to workload changes.
- To provide data for workforce planning and quality of care.
Main Methods:
- Extracted on-call study data (X-ray, ultrasound, CT) from 2006-2020.
- Calculated workload using relative value units (RVUs).
- Employed Mann-Kendall test for trend analysis.
Main Results:
- Total on-call RVUs quadrupled between 2006 and 2020 (p=0.001).
- X-ray studies decreased significantly (p=0.026), while CT studies increased dramatically (>500%, p<0.001).
- Ultrasound studies showed no significant change (p=0.298).
Conclusions:
- On-call radiologist workload has significantly increased over 15 years.
- The rise in CT studies is the primary driver of increased workload.
- Workforce and technician numbers must align with this trend to prevent burnout and maintain care quality.
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