Including the CT radiographer as an active member of the trauma team with the application of the direct to scan pathway significantly reduced time to CT in our trauma unit. Patients’ injuries were diagnosed earlier, and treatment delivered more efficiently, ultimately improving patient care and outcome.

There is a clear discrepancy in time to CT report between those reported in house by the duty local radiologist and those reported externally by outsourcing companies which is perhaps expected due to the inherent delays with outsourcing. This is something that healthcare providers and managers should keep in mind when delivering and evaluating services. 

More work needs to be done to ensure all trauma patients receive their CT scan within 1 hour of arrival to ED and produce a CT report in a timely fashion.