Waiting for an imaging result

Setting: Diagnostic imaging department

Robert King, 59, has just completed diagnostic imaging requested by his clinician. No formal report has yet been issued; he is particularly anxious because a family trip is planned soon.

Task

Explore fear of cancer and the family-trip uncertainty.
Explain why the radiographer cannot give an immediate diagnosis.
Distinguish lack of a result from evidence of bad news.
Explain formal reporting, referring-clinician discussion and the progress contact route.

Waiting for an imaging result consultation plan

The images will be formally reported by the authorised reporting clinician.
The radiographer cannot give a diagnosis from this conversation.
The supplied service plan sends the report to the referring clinician, who discusses the result with the patient.
The radiographer can provide the department’s written contact route for checking progress if the expected communication does not arrive.
Robert King, 59, has just completed diagnostic imaging requested by his clinician. No formal report has yet been issued; he is particularly anxious because a family trip is planned soon.

Fictional scenario information supplied for this examination exercise; not medical guidance for real patients.