Emergency Radiology - Increasing demand on out-of-hours radiology department resources.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Global demand for acute radiology services is rising, impacting healthcare systems.
• Radiology Specialist Registrars (SpRs) manage significant out-of-hours workloads.
• Understanding workload trends is crucial for maintaining high-quality patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate trends in out-of-hours imaging workload for radiology SpRs.
• To analyze changes in computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US) study volumes.
• To assess incoming phone call volumes during out-of-hours periods.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational analysis of out-of-hours imaging studies from 2019-2023.
• Calculation of mean studies in representative months and assessment of phone call volumes.
• Paired t-tests were used for statistical significance (p<0.05).

Main Results:

• Out-of-hours CT volume increased by 39% (p=0.003), with emergency department studies rising by 46% (p=0.002).
• Significant increases observed in specific CT types (TAP, NCB) and stroke protocols. Studies after midnight rose by 82%.
• Out-of-hours MRI showed a 7% increase (p=0.76), while US decreased by 41% (p=0.21). Phone calls remained stable.

Conclusions:

• Increased out-of-hours CT and MRI demand, driven by emergency department needs, requires attention.
• Stable phone call volumes suggest communication channels are managed, but imaging priorities may be shifting.
• Effective workflow management, staffing, and support are essential to address rising demand and ensure care quality.