Biomedical subjects

J G Halvorsen

Publications and source records attributed to J G Halvorsen.

20 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Radiology in family practice: a descriptive study of office practice.

This study examined all x-rays from five family practice clinics for the year 1987, recording x-ray type together with the age and sex of the patient x-rayed. A total of 4,024 x-rays was obtained from 71,192 patient visits--an x-ray utilization rate of 5.65 percent. Most office x-rays were of the chest (39.6 percent), upper extremities (21.3 percent) or lower extremities (21.0 percent). These three categories predominated for all age groups of both sexes, for all months of the year, and for all clinics studied. Males utilized x-rays much more frequently than did females (8.86 percent overall rate for males; 3.95 percent overall rate for females) at all ages except for the age group 0-10 (2.19 percent for males, 3.04 percent for females). The gender combined age group with the highest utilization rate was between 51-60 (8.39 percent) whereas the gender combined age group 0-10 had the lowest utilization rate (2.61 percent). Uniformity was demonstrated from clinic to clinic on type of x-rays obtained, frequency of x-rays by gender, and frequency of x-rays per month. A major difference, however, was noted in utilization rates between clinics. There was a two-fold difference in x-ray utilization between the clinic with the highest utilization rate and the one with the lowest. This data is useful for focusing the content of residency training and continuing medical education in radiology, for providing a content base to evaluate family physicians in radiology, and for providing a foundation upon which further investigations into office radiology can be constructed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radiology in family practice: experience in community practice.

This study examined the utilization and interpretation of office x-rays in community practice. Analysis of physician and practice descriptive data obtained by survey from the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians Research Network, a representative sample of family physicians in Minnesota, leads to these conclusions: (1) Most (87.3%) of the study physicians have on-site x-ray facilities. (2) An extensive variety of x-rays is obtained in the office. (3) Most (54.2%) family physicians interpret their own x-rays and self-select those they want re-read by a radiologist; 43.8% referred all x-rays to a radiologist. (4) Of those who self-select x-rays for referral, 68.9% refer 10% or fewer films. (5) Reasons for referral are: (a) to follow an "a priori" decision, (b) to make a diagnosis when clinical findings are inconclusive, (c) to confirm the physician's own clinical diagnosis, (d) to protect from medical-legal problems, and (e) to consult because of the seriousness of the problem. The study physicians also believe that the interpretation of office x-rays is a basic skill of the family physician, that residents should be trained to interpret 90% or more of their office x-rays, and that radiologists should be used as consultants on the basis of identified need similar to the way other consultants are used. The study also showed that decision criteria for referral are based on sound clinical and quality of care issues, that liability concerns have a definite influence on referral rates for x-ray interpretation, and that a contractual reading arrangement with a radiologist and close proximity to a radiologist both tend to increase his or her use.

Adult↗