Immediate Radiology Report Access: A Burden to the Ordering Provider

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Healthcare Policy
• Patient Communication

Background:

• Practices are ending delayed-release radiology report programs due to the 21st Century Cures Act's information-blocking provision.
• This shift impacts how patients access and inquire about their medical imaging results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey referring providers on the effects of removing radiology report embargoes.
• To share findings and recommendations for managing practice impacts.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was distributed to referring providers at an institution.
• The survey collected data on patient calls and questions post-embargo removal.
• Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• A 5.3% response rate (249/4,671) was achieved.
• 78.3% of respondents reported patient contact regarding radiology reports.
• 83.8% of those contacted experienced increased patient call volume.

Conclusions:

• Most providers experienced a rise in patient calls after report embargo removal.
• Practices should anticipate impacts on patients and workflows.
• Strategies are needed to manage patient anxiety and provider disruption.