An audit of current recall rates and contributing factors in the MRI department at a private medical facility

Abstract

Objective: This audit aims to improve the quality of the MRI department by determining the recall rate for MRI examinations and analysing the contributing factors. Duration and Place of Audit: This audit was conducted between September 2022 and August 2023 at a private medical facility. Material and Methods: Data were collected retrospectively for the recall of all MRI examinations. The data collected contained the total of MRI examination recall, types of MRI examination recall, the period between the initial and recall MRI examination and identified causes of recall. Results: Thirty-nine MRI examinations were recalled between September 2022 and August 2023; the recall rate was 0.68% (39/5694), averaging 3.2 MRI examinations recalled monthly. Due to recalls, there was a delay in MRI examination reports in 0.52% (30/5694) of outpatients and 0.052% (3/5694) of inpatients. The highest MRI examination recall types were the MRI brain at 20.5% (8/39), and the MRI female pelvis at 15.3% (6/39). Eight various contributing factors caused the recall with a total of 50 factors across all the MRI examination recalls. The main causes were the requirement of additional imaging post-gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) administration by 42% (21/50) and further sequence types by 32% (16/50). Conclusion: The MRI examination recall rate was very low. In addition, the main MRI examination recalls cause was additional images post-GBCA administration. However, the MRI examination recall can be prevented by following certain strategies.