Odds of imaging order higher when clinicians self-interpret
Providers who self-interpret imaging are significantly more likely to order outpatient imaging, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology reveals that providers who self-interpret imaging are more likely to order additional outpatient imaging. Eric W. Christensen and colleagues analyzed 24.2 million office-based visits, finding that 13.6% of these visits included imaging, and 33.2% of these studies were self-interpreted by the ordering provider.
Practices where 100% of imaging was interpreted by radiologists had lower odds of imaging within 30 days compared to practices with no radiologist interpretation, except for computed tomography where the odds were slightly higher. The researchers suggest that stricter standards for nonradiologist interpretation could reduce inappropriate imaging, potentially decreasing office-based imaging by 17%.
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