Association of Office-Visit Imaging Utilization with Radiologist Versus Ordering Provider Imaging Interpretation

The authors aimed to investigate how the percentage of imaging studies interpreted by radiologists versus ordering providers affects the likelihood of imaging orders following office-based evaluation and management visits. Their analysis of over 24 million visits revealed that practices with higher radiologist interpretation rates had lower odds of ordering imaging, while those with higher self-interpretation rates by ordering providers had increased odds of imaging orders. This relationship varied based on provider subspecialty and patient diagnosis.