a)

Radiological request: a request for a single radiological procedure on an individual, regardless of the number of views taken or films used. This includes ultrasound investigations, computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Number of requests: requests for radiological procedures are classified into six groups. All the investigations in each group consume broadly equivalent resources.

Other factors which may affect the resources consumed in relation to each request must be accounted for as follows:

i.

Uncooperative patients: patients who are claimed as being uncooperative and who fall into one or more of these categories:

A) Blind

B) Child (under 5 years of age)

C) Deaf

D) Elderly and infirm

E) Experiences language difficulty

F) Extensive physical injuries

G) Impaired level of co-operation due to the influence of alcohol, drugs or medical condition

H) Mental handicap/disorder

I)  Physical handicap

J)  Unconscious other than anesthetized

For such patients an additional "A" group procedure may be claimed per visit, in addition to the standard classification of the procedure undertaken. These additional "A" groups should be separately identified. They should not affect the visit count.

e.g. a scoliogram (group "B") undertaken on a deaf patient

= 1B (number of requests) + 1A (supplementary technique)

ii.

Supplementary technique: an additional "A" group may be claimed for each examination where projections additional to those shown in the schedule are performed. These additional "A" groups should be separately identified. They should not affect the visit count.

e.g. additional erect view for patient having abdominal x-ray

= 1A (number of requests) + 1A (supplementary technique)

iii.

Portable examination: an additional "B" group may be claimed per visit for portable radiological procedures. These additional "B" groups should be separately identified. They should not affect the visit count.

e.g. portable ultrasound examination of abdomen

= 1C (number of requests) + 1B (portable examination)

iv.

Bilateral examination: when an examination entails the repeat of all projections for the other side/limb, the examination group count should be doubled.

e.g. bilateral wrists = 2A (number of requests)

v.

CT examination: where only non-contrast or only contrast studies are performed, the appropriate CT examination code for the region.

However, if an additional limited examination is also performed at the same visit, then an additional "D" group for CT additional procedure (404) should also be claimed.

Where the additional technique involves a completely new procedure or a significant major alteration of the original technique then the workload values should be doubled.

e.g. Prone and supine CT chest = 2D (number of requests)

b)

Isotope procedure request: a request for a single isotope procedure on an individual. Isotope procedures may be carried out in a radiology, nuclear medicine or medical physics department.

Requests for isotope procedures are classified into 5 groups.

c)

Physiological measurement request:

i.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) request: a request for a single diagnostic investigation on an individual regardless of the number of ECG's forming part of that investigation.

ECG requests should be classified into 3 procedure groups as follows:

A) Group A comprising routine electrocardiograms.

B) Group B comprising ambulatory ECG monitoring and exercise electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and 24 hour tapes.

C) Other ECG requests

ii.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) request: a request for a single diagnostic investigation on an individual, regardless of the number of EEG tests forming part of that investigation.

iii.

Respiratory function investigation request: a request for a single diagnostic investigation on an individual, regardless of the number of specific tests forming part of that investigation.

d)

Pathology investigation request: a request for a single investigation for an individual patient or in respect of a human or non-human source.

A number of specimens may be associated with a single request, provided that the specimens:

i. are of the same type, such as blood

ii. have been taken from the same patient

iii. have been taken at the same time (within a few minutes)

iv. are received by a laboratory at the same time

v. are analysed by the same laboratory