Page 29 - Diagnostic Radiology - Interpreting the Risks Part One

SVMIC Diagnostic Radiology: Interpreting the Risks

in front of the radiologist. This makes it easy to compare the

transcribed report with the actual images. Having the study and
the report next to each other should also significantly reduce the

occurrence of the all too common right-versus-left error.

Radiology reports sometime contain mistakes attributable to
the radiologist misspeaking into the dictation equipment or

typographical errors made by a transcriptionist. Such errors
in the final report are often retrospectively viewed by expert

reviewers as being patently impossible, making the radiologist
look foolish, careless, or disinterested, even though that is far

from the truth.

The integration of electronic communication into a “closed-loop”

cycle will maximize efficiency and minimize the possibility of
communication error if used properly. The cycle starts with the

referring physician order, which is usually entered through the
electronic health record (EHR), with clinical decision support to

ensure that the most effective imaging study is ordered. Modern
radiology reports are almost all electronic format. The majority

are produced using speech-recognition systems. Optimization
of this software can alleviate some, if not all, of the inherent

user inefficiencies in this type of reporting. Integrated third-
party software applications that provide data mining capability

are extremely helpful in both academic and clinical settings.
The “closed loop” ends with the automated communication

of imaging results. Software products for this purpose should
facilitate use of levels of alert, automated escalation to

providers, and recording of audit trails of reports received.
The multiple components of reporting should be completely

interoperable with each other, as well as with picture archiving
and communication system (PACS), the radiological information

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