The steadily increasing number of current and prior exams requiring review is making it difficult for radiologists to keep up with their workload, according to a new survey.
Radiologists blame incompatibility between disparate healthcare IT systems for some of the problems, according to a survey of 101 U.S. radiologists conducted by e-Rewards Market Research, an international online market research company headquartered in Dallas.
Underwritten by Advanced Radiology Consultants of Park Ridge, IL, and Compressus of Washington, DC, the study identified healthcare IT-related problems that are hindering radiologists' ability to control skyrocketing demand.
The online survey was administered between November 7 and November 13, 2008; e-Rewards Market Research polled a sample of its physician panel representing 250 subspecialties.
Key findings include the following:
- 94% of respondents believe that there is a strong link between health IT deficiencies and patient care, and 62% stated that lack of access to patient medical records is an impediment to their work.
- 94% also blame the inability of medical imaging systems to communicate with other information systems for missed or delayed diagnoses.
- 86% stated that the financial restrictions associated with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 are a hindrance to the industry, and 50% of those surveyed consider it a major challenge.
- 84% reported that they do not have enough time to access each scan, read it, and report results.
- 81% stated that the steadily increasing number of procedures with large image datasets is a challenge to their effectiveness.
- 78% believe that radiology practice consolidation will negatively affect patient quality of care and safety.
- 73% stated that they receive exams from more than three different healthcare facilities for interpretation, and 16% reported they receive exams from more than 10 separate facilities.
- 71% stated that the inability to share data with physicians and other hospitals is a growing crisis for the industry.
- 69% reported reading unnecessary or duplicative diagnostic imaging exams.
Related Reading
IT users need to demand more from vendors, May 15, 2008
Report: Radiology, cardiology PACS still worlds apart, November 6, 2007
Diagnostic imaging and clinical information systems: An integration primer, April 14, 2005
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