Page 19 - 2022 Risk Basics - Radiology

SVMIC Risk Basics: Radiology

As outlined in a 2017 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) study

performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, an alarming frequency
of poor communication occurs when referring physicians simply do not

read the report of studies they have ordered on their patients. During the
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five-month study, overall, 7,289 of 31,493 (23 percent) of imaging reports

were never viewed by the ordering physician. Specifically, outpatient
providers are more likely (33 percent of the time) to never view the

report. Unfortunately, this is not a new problem.

As far back as 1990, the ACR Bulletin recognized that, “radiologists
frequently cannot depend on the referring physician to read a written

report” and recommended that radiologists make direct phone contact
before sending a written report.
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Indeed, a question often asked by radiologists is, “why bother ordering a
study if there’s no plan to read the report?” Obviously, communication is

a two-way street. What about joint responsibility? Shouldn’t the referring
physician or the patient bear all or, at least, some responsibility when

there is a communication breakdown?

The requesting physician has an absolute responsibility to obtain and
review the result of each and every lab test, study, and consultation

that he or she requests. This certainly includes imaging examination for
procedures. However, while malfeasance and inattentiveness on the part

of the referring physician and/or the patient can be a legal defense that
can be raised in the event of a claim, they do not relieve the radiologist of

his or her legal duty to appropriately communicate findings.

8 Alvin, m. et al., “Clinical Access to Radiology Reports: The Value of the Radiologist,” RSNA, 2017 Scientific
Assembly and Annual Meeting, Nov. 26-Dec. 1, 2017, Chicago, IL, https://archive.rsna.org/2017/17006520.html.
9 Merine, D., ”Failing to Communicate,” JACR Blog, March 22, 2018.

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