Is radiology a 'nine to five' specialty?
The role of the radiologist in 'out of hours' radiology was prospectively studied in a single Scottish Health Board for a continuous 6 month period. Six hundred and sixty seven procedures were performed by radiologists. Computed tomography (CT) (274, 41%), ultrasound scans (190, 28.5%) and vascular/interventional procedures (60, 9%) were the most frequently performed procedures. Trauma accounted for 139 (24%) of all 'out of hours' work and overall 365 (54.7%) procedures yielded an abnormality. The workload varied widely between hospitals from two procedures per 100 beds to 137 procedures per 100 beds. Similarly the input from individual radiologists was very variable. A registrar was present for 227 (34%) procedures, a senior registrar for 360 (54%) and a consultant for 138 (20%) (there being two radiologists present for 8.7% of procedures). 'Consultant only' radiology departments offering a full radiological service may expect a substantial 'out of hours' commitment.
Moss
J G
JG
Department of Radiology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Murchison
J T
JT
D008485:Medical Audit; D011364:Professional Practice; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011871:Radiology; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012606:Scotland; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016526:Workload