Medical Worklist Prioritization via Automated Image Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated image analysis findings in medical imaging systems may not be prioritized correctly, leading to delayed review of critical results, as they are often buried in lists sorted by physician-assigned priority levels, potentially causing harm or treatment delays.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for configuring and displaying a user interface in medical image management systems to prioritize healthcare studies based on automated image analysis findings, allowing users to configure the list to show critical results at the top, using user-specified configuration information to determine priority levels based on AI results, ensuring timely review of urgent cases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If studies are sorted by physician-assigned priority levels, then the worklist organization follows clinical urgency, but automated image analysis findings may be buried lower on the list and not reviewed in a timely manner
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated image analysis on studies before they are added to the worklist, pre-calculating finding-based priority levels. This allows the worklist to be pre-organized with critical findings at the top, ensuring immediate visibility without requiring real-time reordering when studies are completed or added.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated image analysis algorithm independently determines priority levels for studies based on its findings, without requiring physician intervention to re-prioritize. The system self-adjusts the worklist ordering automatically, allowing critical findings to surface themselves at the top of the list based on algorithmic assessment of clinical significance.
2Reliability
If automated image analysis is implemented, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but the complexity of the medical image management system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated image analysis algorithm serves multiple functions simultaneously: it analyzes images for diagnostic findings, determines priority levels for worklist ordering, and provides both to the physician interface. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating what could be separate systems into a single integrated solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the image analysis function with the worklist management function into a unified process. Instead of having separate systems for image interpretation and study prioritization, the patent combines these operations, allowing the same algorithmic engine to drive both diagnostic accuracy and operational efficiency.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the worklist is sorted by physician-assigned priority, then clinical urgency is maintained, but automated findings may cause harm or delay treatment if not reviewed promptly
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different prioritization criteria to different portions of the worklist dynamically. Studies with critical automated findings are assigned high priority and placed at the top, while other studies maintain their original physician-assigned priority ordering. This localized re-prioritization ensures critical cases are addressed immediately without disrupting the overall workflow for non-critical studies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the priority parameter assignment based on automated finding severity. When an algorithm detects critical findings, it automatically elevates the study's priority level in the worklist, transforming the ordering parameter from physician-assigned to finding-based for that specific study, thereby ensuring timely review while maintaining overall system productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for configuring and displaying a user interface with healthcare studies. In one embodiment, the method comprises accessing user-specified configuration information for configuring a first user interface of a medical image management system, the first user interface to display a list of healthcare studies including one or more unread healthcare studies; and creating the first user interface with the list of healthcare studies with priority information for the one or more unread healthcare studies, including determining the priority information, according to the user-specified configuration information, for at least one unread healthcare study in the list based on findings that result from performing automated image analysis on one or more of the images in said at least one unread healthcare study.