Simple changes to the reporting environment produce a large reduction in the frequency of interruptions to the reporting radiologist : an observational study
Abstract
Background: Interruptions are a cause of discrepancy, errors, and potential safety incidents in radiology. The sources of radiological error are multifactorial and strategies to reduce error should include measures to reduce interruptions. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of simple changes in the reporting environment on the frequency of interruptions to the reporting radiologist of a hospital radiology department. Material and Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out. The number and type of potentially disruptive events (PDEs) to the radiologist reporting inpatient computed tomography (CT) scans were recorded during 20 separate 1-h observation periods during both pre- and post-intervention phases. The interventions were (i) relocation of the radiologist to a private, quiet room, and (ii) initial vetting of clinician enquiries via a separate duty radiologist Results: After the intervention there was an 82% reduction in the number of frank interruptions (PDEs that require the radiologist to abandon the reporting task) from a median 6 events per hour to 1 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4–6; P < 0.00001). The overall number of PDEs was reduced by 56% from a median 11 events per hour to 5 (95% CI = 4.5–11: P < 0.00001). Conclusion: Relocation of inpatient CT reporting to a private, quiet room, coupled with vetting of clinician enquiries via the duty radiologist, resulted in a large reduction in the frequency of interruptions, a frequently cited avoidable source of radiological error.
Citation
Banziger , C , McNeil , K , Goh , N L , Choi , S & Zealley , I 2022 , ' Simple changes to the reporting environment produce a large reduction in the frequency of interruptions to the reporting radiologist : an observational study ' , Acta Radiologica , vol. OnlineFirst . https://doi.org/10.1177/02841851221139624
Publication
Acta Radiologica
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0284-1851Type
Journal article
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Copyright © The Foundation Acta Radiologica 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
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