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Specific Aims

Enhancing Partnership in Patient Care: Internal Medicine’s Evaluation of Radiology Services, Including NightHawk. Luke Maj, M.D., Homer O. Wiland IV, B.S., Linda Ha, D.O., Tom Breen, M.D., Emily L. Albertson, B.S., Joseph R. Grajo, B.S., Teresa Albanese, Ph.D., Craig Johnson, M.D.

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Specific Aims

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  1. Enhancing Partnership in Patient Care: Internal Medicine’s Evaluation of Radiology Services, Including NightHawk Luke Maj, M.D., Homer O. Wiland IV, B.S., Linda Ha, D.O., Tom Breen, M.D., Emily L. Albertson, B.S., Joseph R. Grajo, B.S., Teresa Albanese, Ph.D., Craig Johnson, M.D. Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine - Rootstown, Ohio Results from the Survey Background and Purpose This study was initiated to see what internists would like to see improved within their hospital’s radiology department at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) consortium hospitals. This study focuses on internist satisfaction with the radiology department in regard to personnel, resources, accuracy, timeliness, and availability. The purpose of the study is that it may offer valuable data and insight into what satisfies or dissatisfies internists with their hospital’s radiology department. This data can then be utilized and applied to suggest what improvements can be made in radiology departments to yield a better working relationship with internists and ultimately better patient care. • Physician Assessment of Radiology Resources And Technology • When asked: “Is the radiology department adequately equipped?” • 99% of the physicians surveyed commented yes. This result • strongly indicates that radiology department resources is not a • significant problem in providing patient care. Additionally 78% felt • that digital imaging improved patient care, 21% were unsure of its • benefit, and 1% felt it did not improve patient care. This suggests • that the recent utilization of digital imaging technology has made a • positive impact in the way internists care for their patients. • . • Suggestions for Enhancing Partnership in Patient Care • *Internists were asked to provide one specific piece of advice on how they would change radiology services. • The following is a rank of most common to least common responses that were mentioned by multiple internists: • 1. In-House overnight radiologist availability • More accessible radiologists • More teaching interaction with the medicine residents • Better accuracy • Make imaging software ( PACS) easier to use • Quicker patient turn-around time This chart shows that internal medicine physicians do not feel that the accuracy of radiology results poses a problem in providing care for patients. This chart shows that, overall, communication between internal medicine physicians and radiologists is not a major problem in providing patient care. *Some examples of comments made by internists: “Abnormal results should be called to the appropriate person, not faxed, alpha noted, or dictation line.” “More face to face.” “More discussion with radiologists regarding patients’ problems.” Specific Aims Identify ways to improve the coordinated work effort of the internal medicine and radiology departments. Comparison of Hospital Radiology Overnight Services vs. Physician Preference NEOUCOM Consortium Hospital Locations Conclusion A literature search was conducted , and no similar studies or surveys were found. Our surveys within the consortium hospitals showed that internists are satisfied with quality of communication that occurs with radiologists. However, a number of comments were made suggesting that the quantity of inter-departmental communication is not enough, whether it be regarding patient care or resident education. Internists are satisfied with the impact of digital imaging as it relates to the way they are able to care for their patients. Most approve of their radiologists’ accuracy and timeliness of producing results. We also saw a strong desire to abandon “NightHawk” reading services, which currently predominate overnight radiology services at most NEOUCOM consortium hospitals, and adopt in-house overnight radiologists. These results suggest a trend toward increasing interaction between internists and in-house radiologists to optimize patient care. The comments provided by the surveyed internists provided valuable additional insight toward desired changes in the radiology department, specifically a shift toward more interaction with in house radiologists. Barriers to this may include short term greater costs for the hospital, but an overall increase in resident education and more efficient patient care may be a long term benefit by having direct interaction with in-house radiologists. The maps above show the location of all of the hospitals located within the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine consortium. Of these hospitals, internists from Summa Health Systems and Akron General in Akron, Mercy Hospital and Aultman Hospital in Canton, and Forum Health Northside Hospital and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, participated in the survey. These charts indicate that the NEOUCOM consortium hospitals mostly rely on “NightHawk” for overnight radiology services. However, the majority of surveyed physicians would rather have in-house radiologists to provide such services. Materials and Methods A 20 item paper and pencil questionnaire was distributed to internal medicine faculty and residents affiliated with hospitals in the NEOUCOM consortium while attending a noon conference or via hospital mailing services. Completed questionnaires were returned to the investigators by route of hospital mailing services or upon exiting the conference. Results of the questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Comments generated were also recorded. This chart shows that, overall, availability of radiology results is not a major source of problems in providing patient care.

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