The Moment Patients Think the Journey Is Over

For most patients, a radiology exam is a relief. They complete the scan, receive results related to why it was ordered, and move on with the reassurance that their question has been answered.

But imaging often reveals more than what the exam was originally intended to evaluate. Many studies uncover incidental findings or abnormalities unrelated to the initial clinical concern. When this happens, radiologists frequently include recommendations for follow-up imaging to monitor, clarify, or rule out potential risk.

Those recommendations are clinically important, yet in many cases, patients never realize they exist. 

When Follow-Up Falls Through, Patients Pay the Price

Missed or delayed imaging follow-up is not just a workflow issue – it is a patient safety issue. Studies show that only about 30 to 70 percent of recommended imaging follow-ups are completed, depending on the type of finding and modality. 

This wide variation reflects how inconsistent communication and tracking can be across healthcare settings. When follow-up does not occur, early-stage cancers can progress, small aneurysms can grow, and unresolved infections can worsen – turning manageable conditions into serious health events.

For patients, the impact is both clinical and emotional. Delayed diagnosis can mean more invasive treatment or fewer options. Just as damaging, patients may later learn that a recommendation existed but was never communicated, eroding trust in the care team and the system meant to protect them.

In a connected world, patients expect transparency, partnership, and timely communication. Gaps in follow-up undermine the very foundation of patient-centered care.

Why Follow-Through Is So Hard Today

Radiologists fulfill a clearly defined role in the care pathway. Imaging volumes and case complexity have increased dramatically over the past decade, leading to longer imaging reports and more documented findings. As imaging technology advances, incidental findings occur more frequently, and radiologists are required to document these findings, apply evidence-based guidelines, and specify recommended next steps, regardless of the reason for the scan.

The breakdown in follow-up usually happens after the radiology report is finalized. Without a reliable system to track, communicate, and manage follow-up recommendations, responsibility becomes fragmented. Referring providers may assume someone else is handling the next steps, while patients are left out of the loop entirely.

What should be a coordinated handoff instead becomes a care gap.

Re-centering Follow-Up Around the Patient

Putting patients at the center of imaging follow-up means ensuring that important findings do not stop at the report, but continue forward through clear communication and timely action.

Purpose-built solutions such as Rad AI Continuity help make that possible by removing the administrative friction that often causes follow-up to break down. The technology automatically identifies when a radiology report includes a recommendation for additional imaging, including those tied to incidental findings.

Instead of relying on manual review or ad hoc processes, these recommendations are surfaced directly to care teams – such as nurse navigators – who are responsible for coordinating next steps with both patients and referring physicians.

For patients, this shift is meaningful – follow-up no longer depends on chance or busy workflows. 

Recommendations are consistently identified, communicated, and managed, so patients are informed about what was found, why additional imaging may be needed, and what happens next. Timely outreach reduces uncertainty and anxiety while helping patients stay engaged in their care.

Trust Is Built in the Follow-Through

Patients judge their care not only by the accuracy of a diagnosis, but by what happens afterward. Was someone able to explain the results? Was there a clear plan? Did the system help them take the next step, or did they have to navigate it alone?

When imaging follow-up is consistently tracked and communicated, patients feel seen and supported. They gain confidence that nothing important will be overlooked. Over time, that reliability strengthens trust in both individual providers and the healthcare system as a whole.

Follow-Up Is Not the Finish Line

Radiology’s impact does not end with a report. Every follow-up recommendation is a promise to the patient.

Radiology AI has already proven its effectiveness in triage and detection. Now, it must also support better follow-through. Technology that connects radiologists, care teams, and patients ensures that recommendations lead to collective action – and that patients are never left with assumptions.

Interested in learning how Rad AI Continuity could help your practice? Request a demo.