Radiologic examination requisition procedures: a study of their effectiveness in a community hospital.

I reviewed 100 consecutive radiologic examinations with particular attention to the clinical information included. The referring physician originated this clinical information in only 33% of cases. Other personnel, including nurses and aides, added information on the requisitions 57% of the time. When nonphysician personnel completed the requisitions, 46% of the cases were completed with either inappropriate or misleading clinical information. In 9% of the cases, there was no clinical information. Because all of the cases originated by physicians were appropriately completed, a strong plea is made for requiring physicians to originate radiologic requisitions.