title: Launching a permanent out-of-hour interventional radiology service: single-center experience from a German University Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility, frequency of use, types of intervention and labor costs of a formal round-the-clock interventional radiology on-call service.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 11/2011 a formal and permanent out-of-hour interventional radiology rota in addition to the general radiology out-of-hour rota (OOHR) was established. We retrospectively screened the interventional radiology database for procedures completed outside regular working hours, reviewed all interventions and manually selected cases in which the on-call interventionist was called in from home. We determined the type, frequency of use and costs (€/year and procedure) of this service between 1/2012 and 12/2012. The referring physicians' (sub-) specialties were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 12-month period, the on-call interventionists (n = 3) performed 92 procedures OOH. The procedures included angiography and hemorrhage control (n = 36, 39.1 %), angiography and intervention for acute limb ischemia (n = 25, 27.2 %), percutaneous biliary drainage (PTCD) (n = 10, 10.9 %), angiography for non-occlusive ischemia (n = 7, 7.6 %), and other (n = 14, 15.3 %). The total labor costs for the OOHR were € 42,312.21 (€ 32,982.60 lump sum for stand-by, €  9,329.61 for hours spent on procedures). The labor costs per procedure totaled € 459.92. The referring physicians' specialties were general/visceral (n = 25), vascular surgery (n = 24), internal medicine (n = 21), cardiac/thoracic vascular (n = 9), trauma surgery (n = 5), urology (n = 5), and anesthesiology (n = 3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A formal interventional OOHR is practicable in a university hospital setting. Most procedures were requested by general, vascular, and thoracic surgery as well as internal medicine with a focus on hemorrhage control, treatment of acute limb ischemia, and PTCD. The overall labor costs for the OOHR appear moderate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • In a university setting an OOHR for IR is feasible.• Labor costs per procedure appear moderate.• Hemorrhage control and treatment of limb ischemia were the most frequent procedures. Citation Format: • Goltz JP, Janssen H, Petritsch B et al. Launching a Permanent Out-of-Hour Interventional Radiology Service: Single-Center Experience from a German University Hospital. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2014; 186: 136 - 141.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Goltz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University of Munich, Campus Großhadern, München.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petritsch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kickuth
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005062:European Union; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation