Starting FY1 in a few weeks but terrified of radiologists?
Here's how to make great imaging requests:🧵
#TipsForNewDocs
#TipsForFY1
Here's how to make great imaging requests:🧵
#TipsForNewDocs
#TipsForFY1
1) Know your patient and summarise effectively
If a colleague asks you to "just arrange a scan" and you aren't sure why...ask them!
If a colleague asks you to "just arrange a scan" and you aren't sure why...ask them!
2) Have a clinical question
"PE or not PE" is a much easier question for a radiologist to answer with a CTPA rather than "chest pain ?cause".
Radiologists can suggest the type of scan to best answer your question, with the lowest radiation dose.
"PE or not PE" is a much easier question for a radiologist to answer with a CTPA rather than "chest pain ?cause".
Radiologists can suggest the type of scan to best answer your question, with the lowest radiation dose.
3) Pre-empt what the radiologist will ask you
CT/MRI
➡️ Pregnancy?
➡️contrast allergy?
➡️renal function?
MRI
➡️Pacemaker or other metal implants?
➡️Claustrophobia?
➡️ Is the patient able to keep still, or do they require sedation?
Ultrasound
➡️ Last meal? (for abdo US)
CT/MRI
➡️ Pregnancy?
➡️contrast allergy?
➡️renal function?
MRI
➡️Pacemaker or other metal implants?
➡️Claustrophobia?
➡️ Is the patient able to keep still, or do they require sedation?
Ultrasound
➡️ Last meal? (for abdo US)
4) How stable is the patient?
➡️Do they need an urgent portable ultrasound or xray?
➡️ If they come to the radiology department, do they need a medical escort?
➡️Do they need an urgent portable ultrasound or xray?
➡️ If they come to the radiology department, do they need a medical escort?
5) Not all hospitals will require you to call the radiologist
➡️Some scans will be approved based on an electronic form.
➡️Radiographers are often able to approve requests that meet certain guidelines such as the NICE head injury rules
➡️Some scans will be approved based on an electronic form.
➡️Radiographers are often able to approve requests that meet certain guidelines such as the NICE head injury rules
6) Know the urgency of your request
➡️For example, chronic symptoms such as weight loss, abdominal mass, and loss of appetite may warrant a CT.
➡️However, this would not usually be performed out-of-hours, when the imaging department needs to focus on emergencies.
➡️For example, chronic symptoms such as weight loss, abdominal mass, and loss of appetite may warrant a CT.
➡️However, this would not usually be performed out-of-hours, when the imaging department needs to focus on emergencies.
7) Is there relevant previous imaging?
➡️Radiologists will compare a new and old scan ie to assess if a cancer has grown or shrunk.
➡️Radiologists will compare a new and old scan ie to assess if a cancer has grown or shrunk.
8) Ask yourself - what actions will I take based on the results?
➡️This is the best way to focus your thinking down to a clinical question
➡️This is the best way to focus your thinking down to a clinical question
9) Lastly, see it as a referral to another specialty, not an admin task.
➡️Use your slick OSCE skills to present the case.
➡️Or, visit the on-call radiologist in person. It's lonely in the reporting room, but we'd love to answer your Q's and sell you on the best specialty ☢️
➡️Use your slick OSCE skills to present the case.
➡️Or, visit the on-call radiologist in person. It's lonely in the reporting room, but we'd love to answer your Q's and sell you on the best specialty ☢️
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