• Andrew Sellers, Bruce J Hillman, and Max Wintermark.
• Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Division, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia; United States Navy, Bethesda, Maryland.
• J Am Coll Radiol. 2014 Jul 1; 11 (7): 725-30.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to document how academic radiology departments cover emergency department radiologic services after hours.MethodsProgram directors of neuroradiology fellowship programs were invited to participate in a web-based survey addressing how their radiology departments covered after-hours emergency department studies.ResultsA total of 67 separate institutional responses were obtained from 96 institutions, for a 70% response rate. Seventy-three percent of programs (49 of 67) reported providing exclusively preliminary interpretations on emergency department reports for some overnight hours. Only 27% of respondents (18 of 67) said that they provided 24-hour real-time staff coverage. Among those who provided around-the-clock staff coverage, 72% (13 of 18) did so with dedicated emergency department sections. Only 2 respondents offered 24-hour subspecialty staff coverage. Emergency departments and hospital administrators were noted as the most frequent drivers of these changes.ConclusionsAcademic radiology departments vary widely in how they cover after-hours emergency department examinations. A number have recently expanded their hours of coverage under institutional pressures.Copyright © 2014 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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