Outpatient vascular and interventional radiology practice from 2001-2008.

摘要

PURPOSE: To describe experience with an outpatient vascular interventional radiology (IR) practice with respect to number of patients seen, number of procedures performed, and number of imaging studies ordered in follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The outpatient vascular IR practice at the authors' institution was established in 2001 with two physicians spending one half-day per week; a third physician joined in 2004. A retrospective review was done of all patients seen by an interventional radiologist from 2001 to July 2008. The following data were collected for each physician per year: the number of new and established patients seen, the number and type of procedures performed, and the number and type of imaging studies ordered. Data are presented as mean +/- standard deviation per physician per year and total number. RESULTS: In 2001, the average number of new patients seen was 61 +/- 11 (total number = 122), which peaked in 2006 at 127 +/- 28 (total number = 380). A similar trend occurred with the established patients. In 2001, the procedure performed with the greatest frequency was abdominal aortogram with stent placement, which started at 18 +/- 2 (total number = 35) and peaked by 2006 at 37 +/- 23 (total number = 122). The number of ancillary imaging studies ordered by each physician increased each year and by 2006 was nearly 93 +/- 77 (total number = 278). CONCLUSIONS: A robust outpatient IR practice in vascular disease can be developed in 3-5 years with downstream imaging studies being ordered for the radiology department.