Impact of Radiologist-Driven Change-Order Requests on Outpatient CT and MRI Examinations

Abstract Purpose To assess impact of electronic medical record–embedded radiologist-driven change-order request on outpatient CT and MRI examinations. Methods Informed consent was waived for this retrospective study. Outpatient CT and MRI requests in which protocols were determined by radiologists in our tertiary care center, from April 11, 2017, to January 3, 2018, and an order change was requested were analyzed. Percentage and categorization of requested order change, provider acceptance of requested change, patient and provider demographics, estimated radiation exposure reduction, and cost were analyzed. P Results In 79,310 outpatient studies in which radiologists determined protocol, change-order requests were higher for MRI (5.2%, 1,283 of 24,553) compared with CT (2.9%, 1,585 of 54,757; P Conclusion Outpatient CT and MRI orders are deemed incorrect in 2.9% to 5% of cases. Radiologist-driven change-order request for CT and MRI are well accepted by ordering providers and decrease radiation exposure associated with imaging.