Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1/2781
Title: Risk-benefit analysis of a multi-site radiographer comment model for emergency departments
Authors: Klobasa, Ingrid;Denham, Gary;Roebuck, Derek J;Sim, Jenny;Baird, Marilyn;Petrie, Dennis;Best, Joshua ;Abood, James;Tonks, Alexandra;Tu, Caitlin;Jones, Christopher
Affliation: Central Coast Local Health District
Wyong Hospital
Issue Date: 9-Oct-2024
Source: Online ahead of print
Journal title: EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia
Department: Radiology
Abstract: Critical/urgent X-ray findings are not always communicated in an appropriate time frame to ED physicians. The practice of radiographers alerting referrers to clinically significant image findings (verbally, via image flags or written comment) is noted internationally but risk assessment data is unavailable in the literature. A hybrid radiographer comment and alert model was piloted in New South Wales and a risk-benefit assessment conducted for timely and safe communication of abnormal X-ray appearances to ED physicians. Radiographer comments (n = 1102) were provided to five New South Wales EDs by 69 radiographers for a period of 3-12 months. Site auditors classified comments as true positive (TP), false positive (FP) or indeterminate (ID) with respect to the radiology report. FP comments were investigated with ED referrers and a low-medium-high-risk assessment was provided by two independent reviewers. A total of 42 FP (3.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.9-5.3) comments were analysed for any adverse outcomes. Risk assessments demonstrated 37 low, 5 low-moderate and no high-risk cases. A total of 282 direct or potential patient benefits were identified (26.4%; 95% CI 23.8-29.1). A total of 42 radiology report discrepancies were incidentally found: (3.9%; 95% CI 2.9-5.3). Audit results demonstrated areas where the radiographer comment could mitigate risk. The provision of radiographer alerts with a written comment for ED was found to be low risk to patients in the pilot study. Radiographers communicating directly with the emergency team when abnormal image appearances are detected can reduce diagnostic error and improve patient safety and health outcomes.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/1/2781
DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14503
Pubmed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39381872
Publicaton type: Journal Article
Keywords: Diagnostic Imaging
Radiology
Appears in Collections:Radiology

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