From the Guidelines
Acceptable radiology turnaround times for emergency departments should be within 25 minutes for completion of the CT scan and 45 minutes for interpretation, as recommended for stroke patients. This timeframe is crucial in emergency settings, such as suspected stroke, where timely radiological interpretation directly impacts clinical decision-making and patient outcomes 1.
Key Considerations
- For critical imaging studies, preliminary reports should be available within 20-30 minutes, while routine ED imaging may have turnaround times of 30-60 minutes.
- STAT or critical cases, such as suspected stroke, aortic dissection, or trauma, require even faster turnaround times of 15-20 minutes.
- Complete final reports should be available within 12-24 hours.
Institutional Factors
- Turnaround times may vary based on institutional resources, patient volume, time of day, and complexity of the imaging study.
- Digital imaging systems and teleradiology services can help meet these timeframes, especially during off-hours when on-site radiologist coverage may be limited.
Clinical Implications
- Delays in imaging interpretation can lead to extended ED length of stay, delayed treatment initiation, and potentially worse clinical outcomes.
- Emergent CT or MRI scans of patients with suspected stroke should be promptly evaluated by a physician with expertise in interpretation of these studies, as noted in the 2010 American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care 1.
From the Research
Acceptable Radiology Turnaround Times for Emergency Department
The acceptable radiology turnaround times for an emergency department (ED) can vary depending on several factors, including the type of examination, the time of day, and the availability of radiologists and other resources.
- Studies have shown that the implementation of 24/7/365 attending radiologist coverage can significantly reduce turnaround times for computed tomography (CT) reports, with an average reduction of 7.83 hours for trauma cases and 6.07 hours for non-trauma cases 2.
- The use of artificial intelligence software can also help to streamline workflow and prioritize cases, particularly in high-volume emergency radiology settings 3.
- Multidisciplinary teams can identify barriers and implement solutions to reduce turnaround times, such as technical and human-factors solutions, which can result in a 1.2 hour reduction in CT turnaround time 4.
- The implementation of technology, such as picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), radiology information systems (RIS), and voice recognition technology, can also help to reduce report turnaround times, with one study showing a reduction from 13 hours to 9 hours from exam start to report sign off 5.
Factors Affecting Turnaround Times
Several factors can affect radiology turnaround times in the emergency department, including:
- The availability of radiologists and other resources, such as technologists and transcription services 2, 3.
- The type of examination, with CT scans and other high-priority exams often requiring faster turnaround times 4.
- The time of day, with nighttime and weekend exams potentially requiring longer turnaround times due to reduced staffing 3.
- The use of technology, such as PACS, RIS, and voice recognition technology, which can help to streamline workflow and reduce report turnaround times 5.
Strategies for Improving Turnaround Times
Several strategies can be used to improve radiology turnaround times in the emergency department, including:
- Implementing 24/7/365 attending radiologist coverage 2.
- Using artificial intelligence software to prioritize cases and streamline workflow 3.
- Implementing multidisciplinary teams to identify barriers and implement solutions 4.
- Implementing technology, such as PACS, RIS, and voice recognition technology, to reduce report turnaround times 5.
- Optimizing workflow and staffing models to reduce delays and improve efficiency 6.