Echocardiography Workflow Selection for Limited Echo Exams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing healthcare systems often perform comprehensive echocardiography exams unnecessarily, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs, as referring physicians are unaware of when a limited echo exam is appropriate and which sequences to use for targeted clinical questions.
Innovation Solution
A workflow server determines whether a patient has had a prior echo exam within a time threshold and assesses the clinical question to recommend either a complete or limited echo exam, along with specific sequences, based on patient history and imaging requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete echo exam is performed for all patients, then comprehensive imaging coverage is achieved, but unnecessary procedures and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complete echo exam protocol into multiple selectable sequences based on specific clinical indications. Instead of performing all sequences uniformly, the system divides the exam into targeted components (e.g., TTE, TEE, contrast sequences) that are selected based on the patient's specific clinical question and history, thereby eliminating unnecessary imaging while maintaining comprehensive coverage when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by performing only the necessary subset of echo sequences required to answer the specific clinical question. The system determines the minimum adequate exam scope based on clinical indication and patient history, performing fewer sequences than a complete exam when sufficient, thereby reducing unnecessary procedures while maintaining diagnostic reliability for the targeted clinical question.
2Productivity
If a limited echo exam is performed to reduce costs, then time and resources are saved, but diagnostic quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the system continuously evaluates clinical indications, patient history, and exam results to dynamically determine the appropriate exam scope. The workflow server receives feedback from referring physicians about clinical questions and adjusts the recommended sequences accordingly, ensuring that limited exams still achieve diagnostic quality by selecting the right sequences for the specific clinical scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of exam scope from fixed (complete exam for all) to variable (adjusted based on clinical indication). The system modifies which sequences are performed by changing the exam parameters based on clinical question, patient history, and prior imaging, allowing time and cost efficiency to improve while maintaining diagnostic quality through appropriate sequence selection for each clinical scenario.
3Productivity
If referring physicians are unaware of when limited echo exams are appropriate, then complete exams are performed unnecessarily, but physician awareness and protocol knowledge would improve diagnostic efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a workflow server as an intermediary between the referring physician and the echo exam execution. This intermediary automatically evaluates clinical indications and patient history to determine appropriate exam scope, eliminating the need for physicians to have deep protocol knowledge. The system mediates the decision-making process, providing automated recommendations that improve diagnostic efficiency without burdening physicians with complex protocol memorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically determine appropriate exam scope without requiring physician expertise in protocol selection. The workflow server independently evaluates clinical indications, patient history, and imaging requirements to select suitable sequences, allowing the system to serve itself in making diagnostic decisions rather than relying on physician knowledge of when to order limited versus complete exams.
4Reliability
If image interpreters manually determine sequences for limited echo exams, then diagnostic accuracy is maintained, but time consumption and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the workflow server pre-determine the appropriate sequences before the echo exam is executed. The system evaluates clinical indications and patient history in advance to select the optimal sequence set, so that when the exam is performed, the sequence selection is already completed. This eliminates time consumption during the actual exam process while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through careful pre-planning of the appropriate imaging protocol.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device, system, and method determines when to select limited echocardiography exams. The method is performed at a workflow server. The method includes receiving an image order for a patient, the image order including information indicative of a reason to perform an image acquisition procedure. The method includes determining whether the patient has had a prior image acquisition procedure performed within a time threshold relative to the image order. The method includes when the prior image acquisition procedure had been performed within the time threshold, determining whether the reason requires a number of views within a view threshold. The method includes when the number of views is within the view threshold, generating an indication that the image acquisition procedure is to be performed with a limited capacity.