Outpatient vascular and interventional radiology practice from 2001-2008

Abstract

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.

Figure 1.

Average number of new patients/year/physician with total number from 2001–2008. The average number of new patients/year/physician is presented as mean ± standard deviation. Dashed line shows projected volumes to the end of 2008.

Figure 2.

Average number of established patients/year/physician with total number from 2001–2008. The average number of established patients/year/physician is presented as mean ± standard deviation. Dashed line shows projected volumes to the end of 2008.

Figure 3.

Average number of total procedures/year/physician with total number from 2001–2008. The average number of total procedures/year/physician is presented as mean ± standard deviation. Dashed line shows projected volumes to the end of 2008.

Figure 4.

Average number of abdominal aortograms with stent placement/year/physician with total number from 2001–2008. The average number of abdominal aortograms with stent placement/year/physician is presented as mean ± standard deviation. Dashed line shows projected volumes to the end of 2008.

Figure 5.

Average number of imaging studies/year/physician with total imaging studies from 2001–2008. The average number of imaging studies/year/physician is presented as mean ± standard deviation. Dashed line shows projected volumes to the end of 2008.

Figure 6.

Average number of extremity ultrasound scans/year/physician with total number from 2001–2008. The average number of extremity ultrasound scans/year/physician is presented as mean ± standard deviation. Dashed line shows projected volumes to the end of 2008.