Vascular laboratory personnel on-call: effect on patient management.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective study was undertaken of all vascular laboratory tests performed by the "on-call" technologist during a 3-year time period.


METHODS
Technologists take call on a rotating basis. All patients evaluated had symptoms. History and risk factor data were collected at the time of patient encounter.


RESULTS
Studies were initiated from the emergency department 56% of the time, from inpatient examinations 33% of the time, and from outpatient examinations 11% of the time. Ninety percent (n = 440) of the studies obtained were venous duplex scans (VDS). Fifty-eight percent (257 of 440) of the studies were performed on weekends. Thirty-two percent of the studies resulted in admission of the patient. Of the 440 VDS obtained, 51% (224 of 440) identified some type of disease. Acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was diagnosed in 15% (67 of 440), acute superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) in 4% (17 of 440), acute DVT and SVT in 7% (31 of 440), chronic DVT in 4% (17 of 440), chronic SVT in 4% (16 of 440), and chronic DVT and SVT in 1% (3 of 440); 2% (9 of 440) of the DVTs were of indeterminate age. Other diseases were identified in 22% (95 of 440), including popliteal cysts, inguinal lymphadenopathy, and soft tissue edema.


CONCLUSIONS
Having an "on-call" vascular technologist has allowed patients with acute venous thrombosis to be triaged and admitted, if necessary, in a timely fashion. Those patients who have symptoms and a negative VDS result are able to avoid unnecessary hospitalization and treatment. The expense of this service is easily justified by the savings of unnecessary hospital days.
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009820:Ohio; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D000078329:Workforce