Outpatient vascular and interventional radiology practice from 2001-2008.
OBJECTIVE
To describe experience with an outpatient vascular interventional radiology (IR) practice with respect to number of patients seen, number of procedures performed, and number of imaging studies ordered in follow-up.


METHODS
The outpatient vascular IR practice at the authors' institution was established in 2001 with two physicians spending one half-day per week; a third physician joined in 2004. A retrospective review was done of all patients seen by an interventional radiologist from 2001 to July 2008. The following data were collected for each physician per year: the number of new and established patients seen, the number and type of procedures performed, and the number and type of imaging studies ordered. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation per physician per year and total number.


RESULTS
In 2001, the average number of new patients seen was 61 ± 11 (total number = 122), which peaked in 2006 at 127 ± 28 (total number = 380). A similar trend occurred with the established patients. In 2001, the procedure performed with the greatest frequency was abdominal aortogram with stent placement, which started at 18 ± 2 (total number = 35) and peaked by 2006 at 37 ± 23 (total number = 122). The number of ancillary imaging studies ordered by each physician increased each year and by 2006 was nearly 93 ± 77 (total number = 278).


CONCLUSIONS
A robust outpatient IR practice in vascular disease can be developed in 3-5 years with downstream imaging studies being ordered for the radiology department.
Department of Radiology, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA. misra.sanjay@mayo.edu
Sanjay
S
Misra
Ankaj
A
Khosla
Jeremy
J
Friese
Haraldur
H
Bjarnason
Peter
P
Glovicki
Thom
T
Rooke
Michael A
MA
McKusick
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*