Clinical evaluation of the rapid telephone access system for radiology reporting.

The Rapid Telephone Access System (RTAS) for radiology reporting was evaluated clinically among patients undergoing fluoroscopy, excretory urography, or cholecystography at a community-based teaching hospital. After the radiologist has dictated his report in the customary manner, it can be heard by the referring physician using any telephone. Reports can be reduced to hard copy by a typist, or an automatic typewriter can be programmed to print normal or standard reports. Time between dictation and access of the report was significantly reduced after installation of the RTAS (p less than 0.001). There was also a trend toward reduced hospital stay (p less than 0.05) for patients in the study group. The system has been readily accepted by radiologists and referring physicians.