A mixed caseload moves between wellness studies and emergencies in the same afternoon. Three priorities give that caseload somewhere accurate to sit, provided the team applies them the same way each time.
The framework works because it asks about behavior rather than diagnosis. Teams do not need to agree on how urgent a patient is; they only need to notice what they will be doing while the study is out, which is something everyone on the shift already knows.
The Framework
One question does the sorting: what is the team doing while the study is out for a read? Everything else follows from the answer.
Standard
- Wellness and screening findings.
- Recheck and follow-up studies.
- Stable patients with a scheduled plan.
Returned within 24 hours.
Standard is the default, and treating it that way matters. The wellness study, the recheck and the stable patient all deserve a full read; they simply do not need to displace a case that does. Keeping Standard cases in Standard keeps the faster options available for the cases that genuinely need them.
STAT
- Urgent cases where the team keeps working while waiting.
- Studies that inform treatment later in the same shift.
- Referral questions the receiving clinician needs answered today.
X-ray and Fluoroscopy within 1 hour, CT, Ultrasound and MR within 4 hours.
The STAT test is forward-looking: will the team still be acting on this answer within the shift? A study that informs a treatment decision this afternoon, a referral question with an appointment tomorrow, or a patient whose plan hinges on the read all qualify, even when the patient looks comfortable at submission.
Wet Read
For the case where nothing proceeds until the question is answered. The clinic submits targeted, indication-specific questions which are specifically addressed by the radiologist, with the comprehensive final report following before shift's end. Full detail is in the Wet Read at RadsForVets.
Because Wet Read is built around questions, it changes what the submission looks like. The targeted questions carry the clinical context the radiologist needs, and the answer comes back aimed at the decision rather than at the study in general. A team that knows its question is halfway to the right priority.
Keeping It Consistent
Post the question where studies are submitted. Review a week of submissions occasionally and ask whether each priority matched what the team was actually doing. Consistency is what keeps the fastest option meaningful on the night it is genuinely needed.
The review also catches drift in the other direction: cases sent at a higher priority than the moment required. Neither direction is a failure; both are information about where the team's judgment sits, and the framework becomes sharper each time it is checked against reality.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
How many priorities are there?
Three: Standard, STAT and Wet Read, chosen case by case at submission.
What are the turnaround commitments?
Standard within 24 hours. STAT X-ray and Fluoroscopy within 1 hour, STAT CT, Ultrasound and MR within 4 hours. Wet Read is the fastest option, read while you wait.
Who should choose the priority?
Whoever understands the clinical urgency, usually the submitting veterinarian or a technician working directly with them.
Does a higher priority mean a shorter read?
No. Every priority goes to a board-certified radiologist and a comprehensive report follows.
What about exotic patients?
Exotic studies are read on a best-effort basis within 24 hours.
Can a case be escalated after submission?
Yes. Contact the Operations Team, or raise it in Real-Time Chat on the case.
What if the team disagrees about the priority?
The tie-breaker is the behavior test: what will the team be doing while the study is out? If the answer is nothing, Wet Read; if work continues, STAT or Standard.
Do priorities affect who reads the study?
No. Every case, at every priority, is read by an ACVR- or ECVDI-certified radiologist.
Related reading
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