The Role of Teleradiology in Interpretation of Ultrasounds Performed in the Emergency Setting

Abstract

Abstract Background: Teleradiology has become an important tool in the field of emergency medicine, particularly in the area of emergency ultrasound interpretation. In emergency situations where time is of the essence, rapid diagnosis and treatment can mean the difference between life and death. Teleradiology is an innovative alternative to augment the staffing and fill the gaps of the on-site radiology personnel in emergency departments of the hospitals or during off-hours. Aim: To assess the impact of Teleradiology in Emergency Ultrasound interpretation. Methods: A retrospective study is carried out between January to December 2022 for a cohort of 33,616 patients from 86 hospitals across the United States. The study involves radiological interpretations of 37253 Ultrasonograms (USG) performed in the emergency setting by American Board Certified Radiologists empanelled by a teleradiology service provider, headquartered in Bangalore, India. Results: The telehealth model proposed in the studywas seen toprovide timely and quality reporting of 37253 scans of patients with a mean turn-around-time (TAT) of 35.71 minutes 95% CI (35.50-35.91). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that a structured telesonography program with defined protocols for image capture, transmission and clinical communication can allow for successful immediate reporting of ultrasound examinations in the setting of emergency care.