1. Radiologists should be familiar with several legal cases which have become case law, many recent, which place the radiologist as a primary care physician.
2. Review American College of Radiology (ACR) Practice Guideline for Communication of Diagnostic Imaging Findings in the context of legal cases.
3. Radiologists can reduce their legal risk by avoiding pitfalls in communication, such as failing to recommend the next appropriate procedure and by thorough documentation of their communication with other members of the medical care team.
Table of Contents/Outline:
1. Review causes of malpractice lawsuits.
2. Review landmark legal cases where the radiologist has been has been found to have the same responsibility/duty to a patient as a primary care physician.
3. Discuss failure of communication as a key error in diagnostic radiology.
4. Discuss ACR Practice Guidelines for communicating results.
a. Describe and pictorially illustrate examples of “non-routine” imaging findings.
b. Discuss how communication with referring clinicians should occur and be documented.
5. Review National Quality Forum’s stance on communication and reportable events with respect to radiology practice.
6. Provide recommendations for communicating findings for radiologists in daily practice.
Steinberger, A,
Srinivasa Babu, A,
Brooks, M,
The Radiologist in the Role of Primary Care Physician: Highlighting the Need for Effective Communication. Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14018215.html
