title: Patient Recall Imaging in the Ambulatory Setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recalling a patient to repeat a radiology examination is an adverse and, in certain cases, preventable event. Our objectives were to assess the rate of patient recalls for all imaging performed in the outpatient setting at our institution and to characterize the underlying reasons for the recalls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of all repeat imaging requests for an inadequate initial imaging study between January 2012 and March 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 100 recall requests (mean, 2.6 requests per month), for an overall recall rate of approximately 1 in 8046 ambulatory studies and 1 in 1684 MRI studies. Nearly all recalls (98%) involved adults. A total of 95% of the recalls were for MRI studies. The most common reason for a patient recall request was an incomplete examination, making up 24% of all requests. The other causes were inadequate coverage of the area of interest (22%), protocoling errors (20%), poor imaging quality (15%), additional imaging to clarify a finding (11%), insufficient contrast visualization (7%), and incorrect patient information (1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that patient recalls for imaging in the outpatient setting at our institution are not common. When recalls did occur, they were most often related to the acquisition of MR images. Improved technologist education on MRI protocoling and enhanced communication between ordering clinicians and radiologists to clarify the purpose of imaging might reduce the need for repeat ambulatory imaging.
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, 333 East 38th St, New York, NY 10016.|2 Center for Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Science, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.|3 NYU Patient Imaging Quality and Safety Laboratory (PIQS lab), New York, NY.
authors: Soterios
authors: S
authors: Gyftopoulos
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, 333 East 38th St, New York, NY 10016.|2 Center for Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Science, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.|3 NYU Patient Imaging Quality and Safety Laboratory (PIQS lab), New York, NY.
authors: Danny
authors: D
authors: Kim
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, 333 East 38th St, New York, NY 10016.|2 Center for Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Science, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.|3 NYU Patient Imaging Quality and Safety Laboratory (PIQS lab), New York, NY.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Aaltonen
authors: 2 Center for Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Science, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.|3 NYU Patient Imaging Quality and Safety Laboratory (PIQS lab), New York, NY.|4 Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors: Leora I
authors: LI
authors: Horwitz
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: MRI; ambulatory imaging; appropriate imaging; health services; patient recall