title: After-hours radiology.
abstract: After-hours radiological procedures are essential but expensive in any major teaching hospital. Using the criteria that radiological procedures performed after-hours should have a reasonable probability of influencing or changing patient management acutely, a study of the justification of after-hours radiological procedures was performed at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Computer print-outs were used to select the patients based on the dates and times of the procedures. Their charts were then reviewed. The study found that most after-hours radiological procedures were justified. However, it also identified certain procedures that need not be performed or at least could be reduced after-hours. The procedures were: (i) computed tomography (CT) head--epilepsy, meningitis; (ii) CT abdomen--trauma (intubated)--unable to examine abdomen; (iii) CT spine--obvious unstable fractures; (iv) Ultrasound abdomen--biliary colic (afebrile); and (v) Ultrasound kidneys--renal failure (afebrile).
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Siddle
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013997:Time Factors