Effect of on-site facilities on use of diagnostic radiology by non-radiologists.
This study uses self-reports from a nationwide sample of 5447 physicians in ten medical and surgical specialties to assess the impact of on-site facilities on the use of radiologic examinations by non-radiologists. Data from 169,559 patient visits show that when on-site radiologic facilities are available to non-radiologists, radiographs increase by a factor of 1.2 (internal medicine) to 1.7 (pediatrics). Use of radiologic examinations is up to four times greater for hospitalized compared with nonhospitalized patients and is slightly higher for hospital-based physicians and for younger physicians.
Radecki
S E
SE
Department of Family Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033.
Steele
J P
JP
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010824:Physicians' Offices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011859:Radiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States