Radiology wait times: Impact on Patient Care and Potential Solutions

As diagnostic imaging becomes a more prevalent tool in medicine, radiologists must increasingly be concerned with resource management. Wait times represent an important quality of care issue in medicine, especially in Canada, where the number of MRI and CT scanners is limited compared to other countries. Longer wait times have been shown to worsen medical outcomes in a number of different settings, including head and neck cancers, as well as costing patients emotional and financial resources. Accordingly, a number of strategies have been undertaken to reduce waiting times. Teleradiology, which is the assignment of diagnostic interpretation of images to distant radiologists, has worked in the context of reduced staff radiologists in PEI. There may also be a role for encouraging only appropriate indications for imaging. In conclusion, the authors suggest that good radiologic practice consists of considering appropriate use of diagnostic imaging to reduce wait times