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PAs and NPs improve patient care and productivity in a radiology consult practice
Mayur Virarkar1, Joseph A Coleman, Zeeshan A Siddiqui
1Mayur Virarkar is an assistant professor in the Division of Abdominal and General Body Imaging at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Fla. Joseph A. Coleman is a student at the University of Houston in Houston, Tex. At the University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Zeeshan A. Siddiqui is a project director in the Department of Ambulatory Operation and Access, Viola B. Leal is a program manager, Angel E. McClinton practices in surgical oncology, Joseph R. Steele is an interventional radiologist, Wei Yang is a professor and chair of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Priya Bhosale is a professor in the departments of diagnostic radiology and abdominal imaging, and Albert R. Klekers is an assistant professor in the Department of Abdominal Radiology. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Objective:
To evaluate the effects on efficiency and patient care of the addition of physician assistants (PAs) and NPs to the abdominal radiology consult service.
Methods:
We obtained radiologist productivity and patient care metrics for 3 months before and 3 months after the integration of PAs and NPs into our consult service.
Results:
Integrating PAs and NPs into the workflow led to a significant increase in mean RVUs/shift (15.2 ± 0.9 versus 6.2 ± 1.8; P = .02), number of studies read per shift (10.1 ± 0.5 versus 4.4 ± 1.5; P = .003), revenue per shift hour ($756.20 ± $55.40 versus $335.40 ± $132.60; P = .007), protocol prescription to patient appointment lead time (39.3 ± 6.7 versus 16.3 ± 2.9 days; P = .005), and significant decreases in mean CT (19.3% ± 0.6 versus 3.3% ± 0.6; P = .001) and MRI (11.7% ± 0.6 versus 8.3% ± 0.12; P = .011) same-day protocol changes as patient appointments.
Conclusions:
PAs and NPs can be effectively integrated into abdominal radiology consult service, increasing the productivity of radiologists, and enhancing clinical care.
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