Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (NNM), Department of Radiology (PO), Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (NNM), Department of Radiology (PO), Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
J Med Imaging Radiat Sci. 2020 Dec;51(4):574-578. doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2020.08.005. Epub 2020 Aug 13.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, outpatient diagnostic imaging (DI) facilities experienced decreased operations and even unprecedented closures. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the practices of DI clinics, and investigate the reasons for the change in their operations during the initial period of the pandemic starting in mid-March 2020.
A questionnaire was created and distributed to the managers of eighteen outpatient DI clinics in London, Hamilton, and Halton, Ontario, Canada. The managers indicated whether their clinics had closed or decreased operations, the reasons for closure, and the types of imaging examinations conducted in the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fifty percent of the DI clinics surveyed (9/18) closed as a result of COVID-19, and those that remained open had decreased hours of operation. The clinics that closed indicated decreased referrals as the primary reason for closure, followed by staff shortage, concerns for safety, and suspension of elective imaging. Chest radiography and obstetric ultrasound were the most commonly conducted examinations. Clinics that were in close geographical proximity were able to redistribute imaging examinations amongst themselves. All DI clinics had suspended BMD examinations and elective breast screening, and some transitioned to booked appointments only.
Many DI clinics needed to close or decrease operations as a result of COVID-19, a phenomenon that is unprecedented in radiological practice. The results of this study can assist outpatient DI clinics in preparing for subsequent waves of COVID-19, future pandemics, and other periods of crisis.
由于 COVID-19 大流行，门诊诊断成像 (DI) 设施的运营量减少，甚至出现了前所未有的关闭情况。本研究的目的是检查 COVID-19 对 DI 诊所实践的影响，并调查在 2020 年 3 月中旬开始的大流行初始阶段其运营变化的原因。
创建了一份问卷并分发给加拿大安大略省伦敦、汉密尔顿和哈尔顿的 18 家门诊 DI 诊所的经理。经理们表示他们的诊所是否关闭或减少运营，关闭的原因以及在 COVID-19 大流行初始阶段进行的成像检查类型。
接受调查的 DI 诊所中有 50%（9/18）因 COVID-19 而关闭，其余仍在运营的诊所则减少了运营时间。关闭的诊所表示，减少转介是关闭的主要原因，其次是人员短缺、对安全的担忧以及选择性成像的暂停。胸部 X 光和产科超声是最常见的检查。地理位置相近的诊所能够在彼此之间重新分配成像检查。所有 DI 诊所都暂停了 BMD 检查和选择性乳房筛查，一些诊所只提供预约服务。
由于 COVID-19，许多 DI 诊所需要关闭或减少运营，这种情况在放射学实践中是前所未有的。本研究的结果可以帮助门诊 DI 诊所为随后的 COVID-19 浪潮、未来的大流行和其他危机时期做好准备。
