Critical Test Result Notification via Mobile Phone-Based Automated Text Message System in the Radiologic Field: Single Institutional Experience.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of sharing critical test result (CTR) notifications (CTRNs) via automated text messaging.

Materials And Methods: CTRNs via automated text messaging was used to notify physicians of CTRs in a tertiary hospital with 1,786 beds. From June 2016 to September 2016, notifications for 545 CTRs were given via a CTRN system. Among them, 490 CTRs (292 male and 198 female patients; mean age, 53.6 years old [range, 1-88]) were included in analysis. CTR levels (CTRLs) were assigned to four categories (CTRL1 to CTRL3 and unclassified) when reported, and reclassified into three CTRLs according to their clinical relevance and urgency. Response time was defined as time lapse between CTR reporting and documentation by physicians. Analysis of variance was performed to compare response times according to CTRLs and patients' location.

Results: Corresponding actions were taken in 404 of 490 cases (82.4%) without any delayed CTRN-related morbidity. There were 15 CTRL1 (3.1%), 50 CTRL2 (10.2%), 112 CTRL3 (22.9%) cases, and the remaining 313 CTRL cases were unclassified. After reclassification, CTRL1, CTRL2, and CTRL3 were 81 (16.5%), 177 (36.1%), and 232 cases (47.3%), respectively. Response time of reclassified CTRL3 was significantly longer than that of reclassified CTRL1 (median 23.0, [interquartile range 2.0-133.5] hours versus 4.0 [0.0-22.0] hours; P < .001). Response time of outpatient cases (80.0 [6.0 to 157.0] hours) was significantly longer (P < .001) than those of inpatient (3.0 [0.0-16.0]) and emergency department cases (5.0 [1.0-21.0]).

Conclusion: Automated text messaging could be a feasible option for CTRNs in the radiologic field. Further large-scale investigations regarding efficiency of this system are warranted.