Study Shows Phone Calls Interfere with Workflow of Radiologists

Radiologists can encounter many issues when working to provide interpretations on medical imaging results. From overall image quality to poorly integrated storage services, numerous factors can have an impact on the workflow of the radiology department.

According to new study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology, on-call radiologists are constantly interrupted by phone calls and other requests that could directly affect their job of interpreting images from various modalities, including X-ray systems and CT scans, AuntMinnie.com reported. Researchers from the University of California at San Francisco, led by John-Paul Yu, M.D., analyzed the time spent and frequency of phone interruptions during the physicians’ shifts.

“The workflow of the on-call radiologist, in particular, is especially vulnerable to disruption by telephone calls and other modes of physician-to-physician communication,” he wrote, quoted by the news source. “[And] radiologists, especially radiology residents at academic institutions, experience frequent disruptions while on-call.”

Yu and his colleagues compiled data from the university’s telecommunications center, collecting a list of all incoming and outgoing telephone calls that occurred over a 13-week period between July and October 2012. The researchers also cataloged the number of CT exams interpreted by the on-call radiologists during the same timeframe. They found that during a standard 12-hour shift, there was an average of 72 phone calls and an average total time spent on the phone of 108 minutes. Additionally, the median interval between calls ranged three to 10 minutes depending on the time of day

Because phone calls can take away from time spent conducting interpretations, Yu’s team developed measures to reduce disruptions in digital imaging department. They installed an updated electronic medical record system that generated preliminary reports for all studies to be available to referring physicians. The researchers also created a second call room adjacent to the emergency department that the radiologists could staff when patient volumes were high. While there was not enough data to generate a definitive decrease in interruptions, the radiology staff at UCSF reported a reduction in distractions.

Improving workflows in diagnostic radiology
While the changes implemented by Yu and his team of researchers showed improvements in workflow, radiologists can take steps to better their practices on their own. Becker’s Hospital Review recommended that radiologists develop a leadership structure that ensures high-quality management of services. Phone calls and appointment setting should be handled by administrative professionals, leaving physicians with time to dedicate to interpreting images and providing diagnoses for referring doctors.

Additionally, radiologists should have internal nighttime coverage to ensure he accuracy of preliminary reads on scans. Rather than employing external staff for after hours care, these physicians would benefit from in-house services that optimize efficiency with extensive coverage past standard operating times.

As the study from the UCSF researchers showed, workflow management is essential to effective care delivery. When on-call radiologists are distracted, their job functions can suffer from constant interruptions like phone calls. By delegating work to administrative staff and implementing EMR reports, they can cut down on wasted time and increase overall performance.

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