Streamlining Radiology Workflows with Intelligent Reporting Systems

Background:

Radiology departments often face challenges in maintaining consistency and accuracy in reporting practices. To address this, our team embarked on a project to convert radiologic guidelines and algorithms into actionable guidance that could be seamlessly integrated into existing radiology workflows.

Challenge:

The primary challenge was to standardize reporting practices across the board, ensuring that all reports are evidence-based and adhere to expert consensus. Additionally, the system needed to be intuitive enough to guide radiologists through various clinical scenarios without disrupting their workflow.

Solution:

Our solution was to develop a new XML-based schema that encapsulates the inputs for each clinical scenario, along with the underlying logic and reporting sections. The technology stack we employed included:

• Backend Development: .NET 5.0 for robust and scalable server-side logic
• Frontend Development: HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and Angular for a responsive user interface
• Database Management: MySQL and SQL for structured data storage and retrieval
• DevOps: Azure DevOps for continuous integration and delivery
• Cloud Services: AWS for hosting and scaling the application

Implementation:

The intelligent reporting system works by identifying the clinical scenario encountered by a radiologist. Once triggered, the system prompts the radiologist to input relevant information, after which it suggests appropriate report text, complete with impressions and recommendations.

Results:

The implementation of this intelligent reporting system has led to:

• Standardized Reporting: Ensured uniformity in reporting practices across the department.
• Evidence-Based Reports: Facilitated the creation of reports grounded in evidence and expert consensus.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Reduced the time spent by radiologists on report generation.
• Improved Accuracy: Minimized errors in reports through guided inputs and suggestions.

Conclusion:

The project has successfully transformed the way radiologic reports are generated, leading to a more standardized, efficient, and accurate reporting process. By leveraging advanced technologies and a carefully designed XML schema, we have provided a tool that not only enhances the radiologist’s workflow but also contributes to better patient outcomes.