112 - Evaluating Outpatient IR: Identifying Key Factors Impacting Lost to Follow up in Outpatient IR Clinic

Purpose: Over the years, Interventional Radiology (IR) has evolved from a primarily procedure-based specialty to one that encompasses longitudinal patient care, particularly in the outpatient arena. While the clinic plays a pivotal role in pre- and post-procedure care and management, maintaining continuity remains a challenge, with lost to follow-up (LTFU) posing significant barriers. LTFU is a complex issue with a wide array of contributing factors. The purpose of this study was to identify the LTFU rate in outpatient IR, along with identifying key drivers preventing successful follow-up. These factors will be the subject of targeted interventions to improve the follow-up rate, patient care, and clinical efficiency.

Materials and Methods: Following IRB approval/exemption, a retrospective review of outpatient IR clinic follow-up was performed over 21 months (September 2023-May 2025). All distinct outpatient IR clinic follow-up encounters were included in the data set. The total distinct follow-ups, completion rate, cancellation rate, no-show rate, and no-appointment rate were calculated. Data analysis was then performed to determine the LTFU rate and associated factors contributing to it.

Results: A total of 1360 distinct follow-up encounters were identified over the 21 months. A total of 1035/1360 (76%) patients completed the clinic follow-up as intended. In comparison, 325/1360 (24%) patients did not complete the follow-up visit. Further breakdown of this group showed: 218 (16%) never had a follow-up scheduled, 51 (4%) cancelled their appointment, and 56 (4%) were no-shows for their appointment.

Conclusion: Analysis suggested a relatively high compliance with outpatient IR clinic follow-up. However, despite a 76% follow-up rate, a few key factors were identified as major contributors to lost-to-follow-up rates. These findings include scheduling gaps, cancellations, and no shows. Identifying strategies to mitigate these barriers could further optimize patient outcomes and continuity in clinical IR.