As healthcare places more focus on outcomes, patients will likely become more empowered to better manage their health, according to senior author Dr. Alexander Kagen.
"Anecdotally, many friends and family members have expressed interest in learning more about their health through imaging once they understood [radiologists'] role as imaging experts," Kagen said. "Similarly, many referring physicians who know our role (and value) in healthcare review imaging with us that they or a loved one have had."
As a result, the researchers decided to investigate whether patients would prefer an "imaging expert" with an expanded role in direct patient care. After surveying patients and referring physicians, the team found that most patients did not understand the role of radiologists or that radiologists are doctors.
"However, the vast majority of patients are interested in, and see a benefit to, reviewing their studies with imaging experts," he said.
The referring physicians who were surveyed also believed there was a benefit to patients reviewing images with radiologists.
"The main difference between the two groups is in timing and process," Kagen said. "Patients want to review images immediately after the test, while referring physicians would want radiologists to seek their approval before reviewing images with patients."
Referring physicians also believed that the main barrier to radiologists reviewing images with patients would be their lack of understanding of the patient's complete history and inability to discuss treatment plans.
"We believe that both of these important perspectives -- from patients and referring physicians -- will need to be considered," Kagen told AuntMinnie.com. "The multidisciplinary approach to care and widespread use of [electronic medical records] make the stated barriers readily surmountable, and recent movements toward establishing radiology clinics can serve as a compromise toward fulfilling patients' desires."
