Streamlining imaging workflows and automating clinical insights

Eliseo Vañó Galván, MD, Cardiovascular Radiologist, Chair of the CT & MR Department at Hospital Nuestra Señora del Rosario estimates that 30 to 40% of the institution’s studies call for advanced imaging, and that a significant number of these make use of the on-site 3D imaging lab. The clinical team places the highest value on diagnostic quality, and considers access to a full set of advanced imaging tools to be essential in ensuring accurate and complete reporting. To enable consistent quantification or deeper analysis, the team uses many studies that require advanced visualization. All of these studies are crucial to effective treatments, optimal outcomes and the advancement of medical knowledge, but every study also takes time.

While there are many options for incorporating such tools within the radiology environment, the challenge is in integrating these tools in a way that allows for seamless reading, collaboration, reporting and sharing of results—without hindering workflow productivity. 

30% to 40% of studies at Hospital Nuestra Señora del Rosario call for advanced imaging. Integrated tools save "at least 1 to 2 minutes per patient."(1)

Depending on the clinical specialty, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Rosario’s CT and MR radiologists may report dozens of extremely complex and advanced studies every day in addition to their more routine workload. Having to wait an average of 60 seconds for images to open into a separate advanced visualization workstation can have a major impact on their productivity. With the Philips integrated workflow within a single workspace, Dr. Vañó says, “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.”

Philips AI² capabilities also help radiologists work more efficiently and effectively by automating tasks and workflows based on predictive usage patterns. Algorithms help with generating results and measurements, saving time. Integrated voice dictation accelerates reporting within the workspace, helps eliminate errors and even includes the ability to hyperlink prior studies via simple voice commands. Auto population of DICOM and HL7 data shortens reporting time and improves accuracy.

The time saved in gathering quantified, actionable information in a unified workspace contributes directly to the quality of reporting. With poorly integrated systems, there can be an unconscious bias against using advanced tools and quantification functionalities in many cases. The radiologist may decide that the 2D static images are in themselves sufficient to report with confidence, and move on to the next case. However, with advanced visualization tools available in the same workspace, it’s quick and easy to take a closer look, for example, by running an automated lung CAD or quantifying pulmonary volumes. Integrated collaboration tools also make it easy to consult with a colleague and obtain a second opinion in a matter of seconds. 

Greater quantification in reports improves quality of care and research in all specialties, of course, but the advantages of faster reporting with greater advanced quantification have never been more evident than in the midst of the COVID pandemic. “With the new integrated workflow, we quantify much more than ever before,” says Dr. Vañó. “For example, we can easily quantify pulmonary volumes, and we are using that capability for every single COVID patient. We have very positive feedback from our clinicians.” He says, “The availability of advanced visualization tools within a single reading and reporting workspace has made us more efficient with our workload, but it also enables us to provide quality and consistency in our reporting. Increasing automation and quantification greatly increases the quality of the report, and we expect to be continuously improving our work in the future.”