Poll of the Week: Do You Deliver Imaging Results Directly to Patients?

by Patrick Lester | February 07, 2012 1:19 PM EST

I would like to deliver most results to the patient however when this has been presented around the country as a policy, many, if not most, referring physicians have been opposed to the practice (as it "interferes" with their doctor/patient relationship). If a patient initiates the request and there is not a physician sensitive issue present, my policy is to give the patient their results,

by dean copely | February 06, 2012 3:53 PM EST

In mammography we give our patients the results of their imaging procedures and thier biopsy results on a daily basis.

by Charles Maack | February 06, 2012 11:41 AM EST

As a prostate cancer patient for 19 years and a mentor to other men and their caregivers for the pat 15 years, it is my opinion that not only should imaging results be provided to the patient, but what the imaging determines should be explained to the patient as well. We encourage all patients to get and maintain in chronological order all lab, imaging, and pathology reports in order for their own understanding as well as to compare latest lab results from previous in order to be personally aware when results indicate higer or lower than normal ranges.
Charles (Chuck) Maack, www.theprostateadvocate.com