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abstract
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OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to compare the radiology report
turnaround time (RTAT) between decentralized/modality-based and
centralized/subspecialized radiological reporting at a multi-center
radiology enterprise.
METHODS
RTAT values for MRI, CT, and conventional radiography were compared
between decentralized/modality-based (04 September 2017-22 December
2017) and centralized/subspecialized radiology (03 September 2018-21
December 2018) reporting grouped into three subspecializations (body
radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, and neuroradiology) at eleven
sites of a multi-center radiology enterprise. For the objective of
this investigation, hospitals were defined as major and minor
hospitals. The Mann-Whitney U test served for statistical
analyses.
RESULTS
Change of reporting system from decentralized/modality-based to
centralized/subspecialized radiology resulted overall in a
significant decrease of the RTAT: from 82 to 77 min for the
first signature (p < 0.001), and 119 to 107 min and 295 to
238 min for the second signature (p < 0.001). Subgroup
analyses demonstrate a significant decrease of the RTAT for MRI
reports (e.g., second signature RTAT, 1051 to 401 min; p <
0.001) and conventional radiographs (e. g., second signature RTAT,
278 to 171 min; p < 0.001). The RTAT at major hospitals
decreased from 288 to 245 min (second signature; p <
0.001) while the corresponding RTAT of minor hospitals decreased
more remarkably, from 300 to 198 min (p < 0.001). However,
the results were heterogenous; in some analyses, the RTAT even
increased. The effect size analyses represent small effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Change of reporting system from decentralized/modality-based to
centralized/subspecialized radiology was associated with a
significant decreased RTAT. Specifically, the RTAT for MRI reports
and conventional radiographs was significantly reduced. A pronounced
RTAT decrease was observed at minor hospitals.
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