The role of teleradiology during COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the role of teleradiology during the COVID-19 pandemic from Saudi radiologists' perspectives to improve the radiology quality service. Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out in Saudi Arabia among radiologists working at local hospitals from October to November 2021. It contains 21 questions involved demographic information; general information on teleradiology services; and the impact of teleradiology during COVID-19. One-way ANOVA was used to compare demographic groups. Chi-square test was used to compare demographic groups regarding their distribution of responses. All tests were carried out <0.05 level of significance.Results: A total of 102 radiologists participated in this study (56% males, 44% females), 58.8% of them were Original Articlesub-specialized in chest radiology. Regarding the general status of teleradiology, 69.6% of participants believed that teleradiology is a helpful tool for imaging interpretation. However, 44% of them were uncertain on the impact of teleradiology on patients' confidentiality. Approximately 87% of participants agreed that there is a positive contribution of teleradiology during COVID-19, which enables decreasing risk of infection and workload. There was a significant difference between professional degrees and overall participant responses (p<0.05). Academicians agreed that it enhances radiology departments' work (mean=17.78, SD=1.86). Conclusion:Concerns raised on complicated cases that require physical presence of patients, cannot be performed by teleradiology. Additionally, it might provide insufficient communication with other professionals to discuss images.

Medicina en la era digital: alcances y perspectivas

“…La teleradiología también juega un papel significativo en los departamentos de emergencias pediátricas, donde la evaluación de imágenes de teleradiología ha demostrado mejorar el manejo y la consulta de pacientes (Bucak et al, 2022). Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, la teleradiología ha sido fundamental para superar los efectos de los confinamientos y abordar la falta de personal y experiencia adecuados, destacando su papel crítico en situaciones de crisis (Al-Dahery et al, 2023;Pankhania, 2020).…”

“…Sin embargo, se han señalado desafíos en el uso de la teleradiología durante la pandemia de COVID-19, particularmente relacionados con la naturaleza no sistemática de las búsquedas globales gratuitas, lo que puede presentar obstáculos para su implementación efectiva (Mbunge et al, 2022). No obstante, se ha reconocido la contribución positiva durante el brote de COVID-19, destacándose su capacidad para disminuir el riesgo de infección y la carga de trabajo (Al-Dahery et al, 2023).…”

Teleradiology and the Compensation Conundrum in India

“…Technological advancements in the past decade have significantly widened its scope, enabling the digital transmission of images from remote locations to teleradiologists anywhere in the country [ 2 ]. This capability has greatly enhanced the quality of care in these regions, especially highlighted during and after the COVID-19 pandemic [ 3 ].…”

“…While the expansion of teleradiology services undoubtedly enhances healthcare outcomes in remote areas, it is crucial to maintain the quality of radiological interpretations and continue attracting top talent to the field [ 3 ]. The trend of employing radiologists in India for reading international scans at lower reimbursement rates does not support this objective and can lead to job dissatisfaction, increased workloads, and burnout [ 6 ].…”

Navigating Challenges in Teleradiology Implementation: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia’s Healthcare System

“…A study conducted in Saudi Arabia by Al-Dahery et al found that many radiologists believed that teleradiology was a useful tool for image interpretation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could enable decreasing the risk of infection and helping distribute the workload. 15 A deeper understanding is needed to explore any challenges associated with teleradiology practice and develop strategies to overcome them.…”