Organize, review, analyze and report imaging studies using just one workspace 

Article ∙ By Philips Healthcare ∙ Jun 17, 2022 ∙ 4 min read

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In this article, we look at the boon to productivity that could result from an enterprise imaging platform that lets teams capture, manage, archive and collaborate on databases, applications and workflows across your organization.

Putting radiologists' focus on radiology data interpretation instead of performing low-value tasks

How can we elevate the work experience for radiologists so that they can focus on more high-value activities? Can we bring the same transformative relief to the radiology workspace that corporate productivity apps have brought to millions of knowledge workers in other sectors? We believe we can. Imagine an enterprise imaging platform that lets you capture, manage, archive and collaborate on databases, applications and workflows across your organization. The boon to productivity would be significant.

When radiologists have to focus on low-value tasks, not only can productivity suffer, but also the ability to deliver well-informed and meaningful guidance to their clinical colleagues. Not having sufficient time to go in-depth with a case can compromise the quality and value of a radiologist's clinical insights. This article looks at the efficiency benefits of a single unified, comprehensive workspace for radiology.

Where are radiologists losing precious time and opportunity today?

There is a huge effort required by radiologists to pull together relevant patient information to provide informed guidance to referring colleagues, especially in complex clinical domains such as neurology and oncology, where imaging studies are complemented by many other types of information, including pathology reports, molecular tests and genetic profiles.

3% to 5% of radiology cases are misdiagnosed(1)

 

Because it’s not uncommon for radiologists to review 100 cases per day, at least three of those cases are likely to be misdiagnosed. Add to that the variations in operator training and individual differences in how images are acquired, and it’s easy to see the value of common interfaces and quantification tools across modalities. The benefits of standardization are economic, as well.

 

>$575M annually could be saved in the US alone by standardizing evaluation of liver cancer treatment(2)

How serious an issue is this inefficiency?

We have to recognize the realities that radiology teams deal with daily. Stressors, including a high case volume and the need to switch among viewing environments, contribute to radiologist burnout.3 As COVID-19 has made us realize all too well, diagnostic imaging is at the heart of modern healthcare. Expectations for timely, convenient, definitive diagnostic imaging continue to rise.

 

Yet, on both an operational and a clinical level, workflow inefficiencies take a heavy toll on staff. For radiologists, this burden takes the form of large amounts of data, disconnected and inefficient systems, increasing workloads and complexity of cases and pressing reporting demands – all of which can fuel frustration, burnout and a sense of disconnection from patient-centered care. For patients, the risks are delayed care or a potential misdiagnosis.

See how a unified workspace can streamline workflows

Let’s take a look at some of the immediate benefits of a unified approach. A single, unified workspace for radiology would incorporate advanced 3D post-processing and image distribution capabilities, opened in an additional viewer tab for ease. A unified workspace would mean that users can easily launch the relevant analysis tools from among the 70+ advanced applications available across multiple clinical domains. AI4 can play a role by automating tasks and workflows, predicting usage patterns.

Discover how Hospital Nuestra Señora del Rosario is increasing productivity

The CT and MR devices

The CT and MR radiologists at Hospital Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Madrid, Spain, complete approximately 35,000 highly specialized studies per year. An estimated 30 to 40% of these studies call for advanced imaging. Waiting for images to open in a separate advanced visualization workstation had a major impact on radiologist productivity. Now with an integrated workflow within a single workspace, they're seeing valuable results.

“We save at least one to two minutes per patient. So that is a lot of time saved at the end of the day, across every specialist in our department. With the new integrated workflow, we quantify much more than ever before.“

Eliseo Vañó Galván, MD

Cardiovascular Radiologist and Chair of the CT & MR Department,Hospital Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Madrid, Spain

Interested in learning more about how Hospital Hospital Nuestra Señora del Rosario experiences the value of a unified workspace for radiology every day?

 

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Footnotes
 

Results from case studies are not predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

[1] Itri J, Tappouni R, McEachern R, et al. Fundamentals of diagnostic error in imaging. RadioGraphics. 2018; 38:6:1845-1865. doi.org/10.1148/rg.2018180021.

[2] www.radiologybusiness.com/topics/quality/liver-cancer-treatment-hcc-tace-qeasl

[3] According to the definition of AI from the EU High-Level Expert Group.

 

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