title: Clinical impact of extending after-hours radiology coverage for emergency department computed tomography imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Academic emergency departments (EDs) are often reliant on preliminary interpretation by radiology residents for after-hours computed tomography (CT) images. Identifying residents' errors in diagnostic interpretation and ensuring appropriate contact with affected patients are areas of continuing concern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Mount Sinai Hospital ED and Medical Imaging Department in Toronto, Canada sought to examine the clinical impact of extending reporting hours of senior attending radiologists for ED patients undergoing CT imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  All evening CT studies were read by the on-call sub-specialist staff radiologist before 10 pm; while studies done after 10 pm were read by 8 am, permitting review of final reports by the ordering ED physician. A retrospective review of radiology and ED metrics was performed on ED patients undergoing CT imaging 12 weeks before and 12 weeks after implementation of the extended reading hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 12 weeks prior to implementation of extended senior attending radiologist coverage, 871 CT scans were performed as compared to 944 CT scans after implementation. Time from performance of CT scan to obtaining a dictated report decreased from 10.4 hours to 2.8 hours (P<0.001), and time from performance of CT scan to report verification by the radiologist decreased from 29.7 hours to 9.4 hours (P<0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in ED length of stay, rates of admission, or rates of consultation. However, there was a significant reduction in (median) time taken for ED physicians to resolve discrepant reports in the radiology information system queue (20.7 hours versus 13.3 hours, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extension of reporting hours reduced the time for ED physicians to review discrepant reports, while balancing educational needs of residents. This project has been considered a success by stakeholders and has now been implemented on a permanent basis.
authors.affiliation: University Health Network, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dabbo
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Varner
authors.affiliation: University Health Network, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Canada; Division of Emergency Medicine, Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bleakney
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ovens
keywords: clinical competence; diagnostic errors; interns; quality assurance; residents