Review of outside studies by radiology residents: national survey of chief residents

The purpose of this study was to establish practice patterns of radiology residents in regards to interpretation and reporting of outside studies for transferred patients. We performed a national survey of radiology residency chief residents, administered by email through the Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR). There were 81 chief resident respondents, representing 42.8 % of 187 total Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved radiology residency training programs in the USA. In 97.5 % of programs, residents perform interpretations of outside studies. Up to 76.7 % of respondents state that when outside studies are reviewed by residents, an original report is available in less than one quarter of cases. While 55.1 % of respondents state that there is a mechanism for recording their findings and impressions for outside studies, only 32.1 % are aware of a policy requiring documentation. Of the respondents, 42.3 % report they have no means for documenting their findings and impressions on outside studies. Further, 65.4 % state that there is no policy requiring an attending to review and document agreement with their interpretation of outside studies. There is wide institutional variation in both policy and practice regarding reinterpretation of outside studies for patients transferred to academic hospitals. While the majority of radiology residents are providing the service of reinterpreting outside studies, only a minority of residency programs have a policy requiring (1) documentation of their impressions or (2) attending oversight and documentation of discrepant opinions.