title: The evolving role of the radiologist: the Vancouver workload utilization evaluation study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of the present-day on-site hospital radiologist surpasses image interpretation-related duties. This study characterizes these workload activities, as well as quantifies the type of value-based interactions radiologists experience on a daily basis with allied health personnel.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, observational, randomized study was performed across 3 hospitals in the fall of 2012. One month of observation of 14 staff radiologists was performed by a trained observer. The observer followed the subject radiologists throughout the workday, recording activities using a time and motion methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radiologists spent 36.4% of their time on image interpretation. The proportion of noninterpretative tasks was 43.8%, which includes activities such as protocolling requisitions, supervising and monitoring studies, performing image-guided procedures, consulting with physicians, and directly caring for patients. Total clinical productivity was 87.7%, and radiologists experienced, on average, 6 interactions per hour with other health personnel, of which over 81.2% directly influenced patient care in real time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates a new framework of characterizing the type of work radiologists perform on a daily basis, which helps further define the evolving role of the present-day radiologist to other physicians, administrators, and policy makers. Furthermore, the on-site added value that radiologists deliver suggests that radiologists are central figures in the medical imaging department who are difficult to replace by off-site or nonradiologist image interpreters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Radiology, Fraser Health Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia. Electronic address: dhanoad@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Deljit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dhanoa
authors.forename: Tajinder S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Dhesi
authors.forename: Kirsteen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D001955:British Columbia; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014600:Utilization Review; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Radiology; clinical productivity; outsourced services; practice management; quality assurance; telemedicine; workload