Radiology Attention List Workflow for Complete Image Review
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiologists often fail to identify and report existing medical conditions or screen for at-risk conditions due to time constraints, leading to inefficiencies and potential delayed diagnosis, repetitive examinations, and increased radiation exposure.
Innovation Solution
A radiology workstation with an attention list GUI that identifies and organizes items for the radiologist to address, including existing and at-risk medical conditions, ensuring they are included in the report before issuance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the radiologist reviews every image and addresses the reason for examination within the expected time frame, then productivity is improved, but the opportunity to investigate additional medical conditions beyond the scope of the reason for examination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of patient data, medical history, and imaging data before the radiologist begins reading. It pre-identifies potential additional medical conditions and risk factors that should be investigated, preparing a list of suggested additional conditions to review. This preliminary preparation enables the radiologist to efficiently incorporate these checks into the workflow without significantly extending reading time.
2Reliability
If the radiologist investigates additional medical conditions beyond the reason for examination, then the completeness of medical assessment is improved, but the reading time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the radiologist's reading progress and dynamically adjusts the presentation of additional conditions based on findings. As the radiologist reviews images and identifies findings, the system provides feedback by updating the list of suggested additional conditions, prioritizing those most relevant to current observations. This adaptive feedback mechanism ensures comprehensive assessment while optimizing time utilization.
3Reliability
If the radiology report includes comprehensive review of all medical conditions, then the quality of reporting is improved, but the time required to finalize the report deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reporting process is segmented into mandatory components (reason for examination) and optional/suggested components (additional medical conditions). The system structures the report template to clearly distinguish between required findings and suggested additional reviews, allowing the radiologist to efficiently address mandatory items first while selectively incorporating additional conditions based on clinical relevance and time constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A radiology workstation (14) used to interpret a radiology examination (48) includes a display (20, 22), a user input device (24, 26, 28), and an electronic processor (12, 16). A radiology image of the radiology examination is displayed on the display. A radiology report is entered. An imaged anatomical region (54) is determined from the stored radiology examination. An examination basis medical condition is identified from the reason for examination (52). At least one additional medical condition is determined based on information on the patient retrieved from one or more medical databases (10, 44, 46) and is classified as reviewable or not reviewable based on the imaging modality (50) and the imaged anatomical region. An attention list (40) is created with items directed to the examination basis medical condition and to each reviewable additional medical condition. A representation (42) of the attention list is displayed on the display.