Global and Japanese regional variations in radiologist potential workload for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations.

Purpose: To investigate the global variation in radiologist potential workload for CT and MRI examinations, and the regional variation in potential workload and extent of radiologists' involvement in CT and MRI examinations in Japan.Methods: "Radiologist potential workload" was defined as the annual...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Japanese Journal of Radiology Vol. 36; no. 4; pp. 273 - 282
Autores principales: Kumamaru, Kanako K., Machitori, Akihiro, Koba, Ritsuko, Ijichi, Shinpei, Nakajima, Yasuo, Aoki, Shigeki
Formato: Journal Article
Publicado: Springer Nature Apr2018
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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Sumario:Purpose: To investigate the global variation in radiologist potential workload for CT and MRI examinations, and the regional variation in potential workload and extent of radiologists' involvement in CT and MRI examinations in Japan.Methods: "Radiologist potential workload" was defined as the annual number of CT plus MRI examinations divided by the total number of diagnostic radiologists. The extent of radiologists' involvement was measured as the proportion of CT and MRI examinations to which "Added-fees for Radiological Managements on Imaging-studies (ARMIs)" were applied among eligible examinations. Maximum variation was computed as the ratio of the highest-to-lowest values among the countries or Japanese prefectures.Results: The radiologist potential workload in Japan was 2.78-4.17 times higher than those in other countries. A maximum prefecture-to-prefecture variation was 3.88. The average percentage of CT plus MRI examinations with ARMI applied was 43.3%, with a maximum prefecture-to-prefecture variation of 3.97. Prefectures with more radiologists tended to have a higher extent of radiologists' involvement.Conclusions: Japan had a far greater radiologist potential workload compared with other countries, with a large regional variation among prefectures. Prefectures with more radiologists tended to have a higher extent of radiologists' involvement in CT and MRI examinations.