Use of Radiological Facilities by General Practitioners

Abstract

The 11,360 direct referrals to diagnostic radiological facilities by general practitioners in the Aberdeen area during 1973 were studied. These represented about 12% of the adult radiology performed in the main x-ray departments of the city, and barium meal examinations amounted to half of all such outpatient contrast examinations. Chest x-ray and barium meal examinations were the most frequently used procedures.Some abnormality was detected at 34% of all examinations, and the barium meal examinations requested by general practitioners showed a similar percentage of abnormal findings to those requested by Aberdeen hospital doctors.The average referral rate for all practices was 24.6 per 1,000 practice population per year. Singlehanded general practitioners referred fewer patients for diagnostic radiology than those working in group practices, and rural practitioners referred fewer than urban general practitioners. This trend was emphasized at a distance greater than 15 miles from the city.

Chest Radiography: General Practitioners’ Compliance with Recommendations

“…It is difficult to assess the contribution and impact of CR in our study. However, we obtained 28.81% positive findings, as in W. J. MAIR's study, with 29.8% of abnormalities detected [12] and 30% for the study by B. B. Wallace [13].…”

How Do General Practitioners Respond to Reports of Abnormal Chest X-rays?

“…64 (91%) of the 70 patients were seen in hospital within 3 months of the initial CXR (Table 2). 6 patients were never referred by their GPs for follow-up evaluation. In 5 patients the CXR changes were consistent with infection and an active decision had been made by the GP not to refer; all made a good recovery.…”

Magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: direct access for general practitioners

“…Our figures suggest that without general practitioners' direct access to magnetic resonance imaging most of these patients, if referred to the orthopaedic surgeons, would have undergone magnetic resonance imaging as the populations scanned seem similar. Other studies show that open access for general practitioners reduces the workload on hospital beds and outpatient departments and that general practitioners use radiology services as responsibly as their hospital counterparts 1 4 5…”

“…General practitioners' direct access to radiological services is now well established for plain film radiography and contrast studies 1. We have offered general practitioners direct access for magnetic resonance imaging of the knee since January 1993.…”