TABLE 2.
A summary of the scan types that were reduced or ceased
| Scan | No. | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| All scans reduced | 4 |
To allow for thorough cleaning between patients To reduce the number of people in the waiting room |
| Only inpatient scans performed | 4 |
Exposing staff/patients to as few people as possible Reduce the number of people in the waiting room Limit contamination by outpatient Increase availability for COVID‐19 patients |
| Only urgent scans performed | 8 |
Minimise community transmission of COVId‐19 Allow department to organise safety protocols Reduce the number of people within the hospital Increase availability for COVID‐19 surge Allow for illness amongst staff Triaging patients reduces amount of people in clinic |
| Screening scans ceased | 2 | Nil |
| Research patients cease | 1 | Nil |
| Long scans assessed on a patient‐by‐patient basis | 1 | Nil |
| Scans without proper clinical information or blood results attached not performed | 1 | Nil |
| Annual review scans ceased | 4 |
Ability to be deferred until later in the year Reduce risk of exposure to staff/patients |
| All scans on patients with any COVID symptoms/suspected of COVID ceased | 4 | Reduce the risk of contracting COVID‐19 |
| All scans on patients with isolation requirements of awaiting COVID‐19 test results ceased | 8 |
Reduce the risk of contracting COVID‐19 |
| All scans on patients with confirmed COVID ceased | 6 | Reduce the risk of contracting COVID‐19 |
| Non urgent gyanecological scans ceased | 2 | Nil |
| Tv scanning ceased | 1 | Reduce exposure to possible faecal contamination |
| Deep infiltrating Endometriosis scans ceased | 2 | Nil |
| Routine obstetrics ceased | 7 |
Expectation that private practice would perform instead Increase availability for COVID‐19 surge Allow for illness amongst staff |
| Pregnancy scans purely for patient reassurance ceased | 1 | Nil |
| Precautionary obstetric scans due to issues in previous pregnancy ceased | 1 | Nil |
| Only obstetric scans that would directly impact patient management performed | 1 | Reduce the number of scans being performed to enable work team to be split in base someone got COVID‐19 |
| Only third trimester scans deemed necessary booked | 1 | Reduce number of people coming into the hospital |
| 3D/4D baby scans ceased | 4 | Nil |
| Prostate biopsies ceased | 1 | Nil |
| Penile doppler scans ceased | 1 | Nil |
| Arterial leg studies ceased | 7 | Length of time for procedure, reduce contact time for sonographer |
| Venous incompetence ceased | 7 |
Reduced contact time Sonographer position relative to patient increases risk of respiratory droplets |
| Bilateral DVT ceased | 2 | Reduce face to face contact time for sonographer |
| Abdominal Doppler ceased | 1 | Reduce face to face contact time for sonographer |
| ? Hernia scans ceased | 1 | Could be performed by Computer Tomography (CT) |
| ? Renal calcification scans ceased | 1 | Could be performed by CT |
| Non urgent breast imaging ceased | 4 |
Increase availability for COVID‐19 surge Allow for illness amongst staff |
| Neck/thyroid/carotid scans ceased | 2 | Droplet precautions |
| Musculoskeletal scans ceased | 1 |
Could be postponed Limit exposure to staff |
| Non‐essential Musculoskeletal scans ceased | 4 |
Redirected to private practice that needed the work Reduced exposure risk as would not alter patient management |
| Interventional procedures reduced | 1 | Nil |
| Interventional procedures ceased | 9 |
Reduce number of people in scanning room Able to be postponed Risk of procedure results in patient hospitalisation Increase availability for COVID‐19 surge No radiologist on site Impact on immunity for some procedures Preserve PPE |
| High risk procedures ceased | 1 | Nil |
| Stress echocardiograms ceased | 6 |
Risk of droplets Reduce time with patient Room re‐purposed as area for possible COVID‐19 patients |
| Stress echocardiograms only performed when essential | 4 | Reduce need for patients to be out in the community |
| Echocardiograms in the elderly and vulnerable people ceased | 1 | Reduce the need for vulnerable patients to be out in the community |
| Echocardiographs whose outcome would not change patient management ceased | 1 | Nil |
| Transoesophageal echocardiograms ceased | 1 | Risk of respiratory transfer of disease |
| Increased threshold put on transthoracic echocardiographs, transoesophageal echocardiogram, and stress echocardiograms | 2 |
Potential aerosolization |
| Stress echocardiograms and transoesophageal echocardiograms scans reduced | 3 | Extra cleaning required due to aerosolization |
Note: Key: No. = Number of sonographers who indicated change.