MacBeth RaeLynne, Ravi Shweta, Abuhamdeh Imran, Avery Ross, Wien Michael, Faraji Navid
Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 2023 Nov-Dec;52(6):511-514. doi: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2023.06.007. Epub 2023 Jul 1.
Disruptions in image interpretation lead to interrupted education and inefficiency, and ultimately delay patient care. In the academic reading room, time can often be spent rerouting phone calls. The objective of this study was to evaluate resident perception of current workflow, decrease interruptions, and improve patient care and resident education by implementing a cost-effective automated centralized phone tree.
Phone call records were obtained between January 25 and February 23, 2021 and May 3 and June 30, 2021 prior to implementation of an automated centralized phone tree within the Emergency Radiology reading room. Calls during weekday business hours were evaluated. Postimplementation phone records were obtained over 4 weeks (August 20-September 16, 2021). Residents on rotation were surveyed prior to and after phone tree implementation regarding the qualitative impact.
The total number of phone calls decreased after phone tree implementation to 8 calls over a 19-day period from 100-200 phone calls over a 20-22 day period. There is a statistically significant difference (p-value < 0.017) in the median number of phone calls postimplementation for all compared preimplementation time points. Resident surveys also demonstrate a statistically significant improvement (p-value < 0.05) in the evaluated metrics.
Data demonstrate a quantitative decrease in the number of calls arriving at the Emergency Radiology reading room as well as qualitative improvements in resident workplace satisfaction, feelings of burnout, and burden of interruptions. These data suggest that a self-directed triage system (eg, phone tree) could provide a cost-effective and simple means of decreasing interruptions.
影像解读的中断会导致教育过程中断和效率低下，最终延误患者护理。在学术阅览室，经常会花费时间转接电话。本研究的目的是通过实施具有成本效益的自动化集中式电话树，评估住院医师对当前工作流程的看法，减少干扰，并改善患者护理和住院医师教育。
在急诊放射科阅览室实施自动化集中式电话树之前，于2021年1月25日至2月23日以及2021年5月3日至6月30日获取电话记录。对工作日工作时间内的电话进行评估。在实施电话树后的4周（2021年8月20日至9月16日）获取实施后的电话记录。在电话树实施前后，对轮转住院医师进行了关于定性影响的调查。
实施电话树后，电话总数从20 - 22天内的100 - 200个减少到19天内的8个。与实施前的所有时间点相比，实施后电话数量的中位数存在统计学显著差异（p值 < 0.017）。住院医师调查还显示，评估指标有统计学显著改善（p值 < 0.05）。
数据表明到达急诊放射科阅览室的电话数量在数量上有所减少，同时住院医师的工作场所满意度、倦怠感和干扰负担在质量上有所改善。这些数据表明，自我指导的分诊系统（如电话树）可以提供一种具有成本效益且简单的减少干扰的方法。
