title: Virtual radiology rounds: adding value in the digital era.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To preserve radiology rounds in the changing health care environment, we have introduced virtual radiology rounds, an initiative enabling clinicians to remotely review imaging studies with the radiologist.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe our initial experience with virtual radiology rounds and referring provider impressions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Virtual radiology rounds, a web-based conference, use remote sharing of radiology workstations. Participants discuss imaging studies by speakerphone. Virtual radiology rounds were piloted with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Congenital Cardiovascular Care Unit (CCVCU). Providers completed a survey assessing the perceived impact and overall value of virtual radiology rounds on patient care using a 10-point scale. Pediatric radiologists participating in virtual radiology rounds completed a survey assessing technical, educational and clinical aspects of this methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen providers responded to the survey; 9 NICU and 7 CCVCU staff (physicians, nurse practitioners and fellows). Virtual radiology rounds occurred 4-5 sessions/week with an average of 6.4 studies. Clinicians rated confidence in their own image interpretation with a 7.4 average rating for NICU and 7.5 average rating for CCVCU. Clinicians unanimously rated virtual radiology rounds as adding value. NICU staff preferred virtual radiology rounds to traditional rounds and CCVCU staff supported their new participation in virtual radiology rounds. Four of the five pediatric radiologists participating in virtual radiology rounds responded to the survey reporting virtual radiology rounds to be easy to facilitate (average rating: 9.3), to moderately impact interpretation of imaging studies (average rating: 6), and to provide substantial educational value for radiologists (average rating: 8.3). All pediatric radiologists felt strongly that virtual radiology rounds enable increased integration of the radiologist into the clinical care team (average rating: 8.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Virtual radiology rounds are a viable alternative to radiology rounds enabling improved patient care and education of providers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA. nancy.fefferman@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Fefferman
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Naomi A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Strubel
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Chandan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prithiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakravarti
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caprio
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Recht
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D011871:Radiology / Q000379:methods*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Communication; Intensive care unit; Pediatric radiology; Rounds; Virtual radiology rounds