Results of the work of the Reference center for diagnostic radiology with using telemedicine technology

Abstract

Introduction: the main goal of the Moscow Reference Center (MRC) for Diagnostic Radiology is to optimize study reporting by using teleradiology with a team of highly qualified specialists. Purpose: to evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostic radiology centralization in the capital health care system. Materials and methods. We analyzed the results of telemedicine-based MRC consultations in diagnostic radiology examinations between 08.2020 and 10.2022. Results. The radiologists of MRC reported four million two hundred thousand eighty one study (84.1% first reading, and 15.9% second reading). For the majority of modalities, except for computed tomography (CT), there was a positive correlation between the number of primary descriptions and the number of radiologists. There was a trend towards shorter description times for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorography, densitometry, and radiography. An audit among MRC employees showed a significantly higher number of fully compliant reports without discrepancies, lower number of general comments, and clinically significant errors compared to the audit of on-site radiologists at medical institutions. Research limitations: no data on (i) anatomical regions of the examinations, (ii) the balance of “normal/pathological” conclusion classes, (iii) the number of examinations with contrast enhancement, making establishing the changes in reporting time impossible. Conclusion. The unification of diagnostic radiology at the MRC has improved report quality and reduced time costs.