MIR / Patient Care / Referring Physicians / Incidental Findings

Incidental Findings Program

An incidental finding is an unanticipated finding on a patient’s image that requires additional follow up. MIR’s Incidental Findings Program dramatically reduces the time between an incidental finding report on an imaging scan to next-step actions for the patient. That could mean scheduling another scan, visiting a primary care physician or seeing an appropriate subspecialist.

If an incidental finding is identified, MIR will call the referring physician, notify them of the findings and recommended next steps. Other programs send notifications by text or email, but busy physicians may receive hundreds of these communications a day. A personal phone call ensures there is direct, one-to-one communication with someone who can take responsibility for further action on behalf of the patient.

  • An MIR radiologist identifies the incidental finding, provides recommendations for follow-up and a timeframe for that follow-up.
  • The program’s nurse coordinator reviews all flagged cases and calls the ordering provider to make sure they received the report.
  • MIR’s nurse coordinator keeps track of the recommended timeframes for follow-up and if necessary will again contact the provider’s office or patient to find out what actions have been taken.
  • If no action has been taken, a certified letter is sent to the patient.
  • 15% of patients and physicians contacted are unaware of the incidental findings reported by our radiologists
  • 60 – 70 patients per week benefit from this program

MIR’s Incidental Findings Program is currently available at the below hospitals and their affiliate locations:

  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital
  • Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital
  • Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
  • Christian Northeast Hospital
  • Missouri Baptist Medical Center
  • Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
  • Northwest Healthcare
  • Progress West Hospital

Questions?

For more information, call 314-273-2639 or email Paula Grow.