The educational and career impact of using medical students for triaging off-hour diagnostic imaging requests at a major academic medical center.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the educational and career impact of using medical students for triaging off-hour diagnostic imaging requests at a major academic medical center. A survey of former and current medical students who participated in the Emergency Department Radiology Triage Program at the Yale University School of Medicine was conducted via e-mail. Results were reported using averages or percentages or both. Twenty-six (61.9%) of the 42 participants responded. Seventeen (65.4%) of the 26 respondents pursued an additional degree while in the program. The most important factor for joining was financial, with a mean importance of 4.0 on a scale of 1 (no importance) to 5 (most important). Eleven (42.3%) of the 26 respondents stated that their participation encouraged them to pursue a career in diagnostic radiology. Nine (34.6%) of the 26 respondents stated that the program had major or moderate importance on their specialty choice, whereas 20 of the 26 (76.9%) described the program as being of at least moderate help to their medical career. The most satisfying aspect of the program, on a scale of 1 (extremely dissatisfying) to 5 (extremely satisfying), was interacting with the junior radiology resident (mean rating, 4.5), whereas the least satisfying aspect was the Veterans Affairs triage component (mean rating, 2.9). The use of medical students for triaging off-hour diagnostic imaging requests has proven successful from an operational standpoint; it also appears to be favorably viewed concurrently and retrospectively by the growing cohort of students who have participated.