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Noguchi T, Tanaka K, Okada Y, Fukuizumi K, Yokoda S, Dairiki M, Yamashita K, Shin S, Wada N, Harada S, Morita S. A practical system that enables physicians to respond expeditiously to significant unexpected findings (SUFs) in radiological reports. Jpn J Radiol 2021; 39:424-432. [PMID: 33386574 DOI: 10.1007/s11604-020-01077-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To demonstrate effectiveness of our present radiological report check flowchart enabling physicians to respond to significant unexpected findings (SUFs), by comparing the response periods from the examination date to the action date on untreated SUFs between the previous and present versions of our flowchart. METHODS In the flowchart's previous version used February-October 2019, SUFs, which were notified by email, were audited every month. The physician received a phone call and was asked to act on the untreated SUF. In the flowchart's present version used from November 2019 to May 2020, SUFs were audited every 2 weeks. The physician and his/her chief were asked to return a written response to the untreated SUF. We evaluated the difference in the response periods between the previous and present versions of the flowchart. RESULTS With the previous flowchart's use, untreated SUFs were 43 of 229 SUFs (18.8%) with the present flowchart untreated SUFs were 22 of 130 SUFs (16.9%). All SUFs in both periods were eventually responded. The present flowchart (median/range, 25/11-70 days) significantly had shorter response periods than the previous flowchart (70/16-290 days) (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The present flowchart employing a shortened primary audit interval, a written response, and the department chief's intervention, helped reduce the response periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Noguchi
- Department of Radiology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan. .,Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan. .,Education and Training Office, Department of Clinical Research, Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kumi Tanaka
- Medical Safety Management Unit, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan.,Department of Nursing, National Hospital Organization Kokura Medical Center, 10-10 Harugaoka, Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Yasushi Okada
- Medical Safety Management Unit, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Kunitaka Fukuizumi
- Medical Information Management Center, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Sachiyo Yokoda
- Medical Safety Management Unit, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan.,Department of Nursing, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Motoko Dairiki
- Medical Safety Management Unit, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan.,Department of Nursing, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Koji Yamashita
- Department of Radiology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Seitaro Shin
- Department of Radiology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Noriaki Wada
- Department of Radiology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Shino Harada
- Department of Radiology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
| | - Shigeki Morita
- The Director of the hospital, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, 1-8-1 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Province, Japan
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