J Korean Soc Radiol.  2018 Nov;79(5):247-253. 10.3348/jksr.2018.79.5.247.

Status of Interchange of Medical Imaging in Korea: A Questionnaire Survey of Physicians

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. sejung@catholic.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Radiology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Radiology, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
  • 5Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 6Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to summarize the results of a survey for physicians with specialties other than radiology about imaging studies of patients referred from other institutions. The survey was promoted through individual contacts or social network service and physicians who voluntarily responded to the survey were the subjects of the study. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions about basic information and referrals about medical imaging. A total of 160 physicians from 30 specialties participated in the survey and 95.6% of the respondents worked in tertiary care center or general hospital. Patients were frequently referred with outside medical images. The most frequently referred imaging modalities were computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. However, radiological reports from outside institutions were rarely referred. Most physicians thought that reinterpretation for outside imaging is necessary to acquire a secondary opinion. In conclusion, considering that outside radiological reports are frequently missing and there are high demands on reinterpretation for outside imaging, guidelines for referral of radiological reports with medical imaging, basic elements of radiological reports, and reinterpretation need to be developed.


MeSH Terms

Diagnostic Imaging*
Hospitals, General
Humans
Korea*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Radiology Information Systems
Referral and Consultation
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tertiary Care Centers

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