Non-RVU-Generating Clinical Activities, Their Composition and Influence on Productivity, and Reporting Burden in a...

Diagnostic radiologist reporting productivity can be measured via Relative Value Units (RVU). The volume of other operational or clinical activities during a radiologist's workday is burdensome but has thus far escaped quantitation and is often not recognised by referrers or administrators. The purpose of this study was to quantify and classify non-RVU-generating activities and measure their impact on productivity.

A prospective, observational study was performed at a large public hospital. Radiologists' activities were observed for a whole day over a total of 62 days. Radiologists' RVUs straddling 5 days before and after the observation day were reviewed to account for potential Hawthorne Effect bias.

Across all radiologists, a median of 31% (IQR: 22%-36%) of their workday was occupied by non-RVU-generating activities. Despite that, in their remaining workday, in aggregate, the radiologists' median productivity-as measured by RVU-equivalent minutes-was 62% (IQR: 26%-114%) higher than their expected EFT equivalent. 46% of radiologists' non-RVU activities were devoted to trainees. Another 34% is devoted to interactions with referring colleagues, whilst 12% is spent on administration and operations.

Almost one third of a radiologist's daily responsibilities encompass non-RVU-generating activities crucial for the effective operation of an academic radiology department. Implementing tools to capture and quantify such activities is essential for garnering recognition within the organisation and with hospital administrators. At our hospital, each radiologist produces nearly two-thirds of an additional radiologist's workload during the remaining reporting time; a critical warning indicator for burnout risk and quality deterioration.