Health Imaging & IT - December 2008 - (Page 11)

the communication loop. The health system not only achieved its studies showing breast MRI carries clinical benefits for diagnosed primary goals but also saved money in the process, says Jonathan patients as well. The unique needs of the patient population, however, Berlin, MD, associate professor of radiology at Northwestern Unican be a hitch for sites that want to initiate a program. versity in Chicago. Similarly, Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Most breast MRI providers offer a multi-pronged program. Take Calif., realized a marked increase in physician satisfaction after for example Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla. The center launched deploying MedQuist SpeechQ for Radiology primarily because the its breast MRI program in 2002 and used a 0.5 T magnet to aid treatsolution allows radiologists to release preliminary results immediment planning. Breast Care Specialists in Atlanta, Ga., realized a proately after review. found impact immediately after deploying an Aurora Imaging TechTraditional dictation workflow seems convenient for radiologists. nology Dedicated Breast MRI System in 2005. “Now surgeons won’t Most dictate, correct and sign reports in a batch at the end of the day, operate without breast MRI if they can avoid it. It has changed the resulting in 24 to 48 hour or longer turnaround time. Speech recognisurgical approach from lumpectomy to mastectomy in a number of tion permits an accelerated model that spreads reporting throughout cases,” reports Pamela Donlan, MD, radiologist. That’s because the the day and posts results immediately. Tight integration among PowMRI exam may reveal disease not detected on a mammogram, or it erScribe, Epic EMR and Cerner RIS at North Shore makes reports may indicate contralateral disease. available via the electronic patient record within 10 minutes. When ACS issued its screening guidelines, many breast MRI proThe process accelerates and improves patient care by consolidating viders saw volume grow. Between 2002 and 2005 monthly volume at findings in a single document. Take for Moffitt Cancer Center rose from 25 to 100 example an emergent pulmonary embolism patients and the center deployed a GE ruleout. In a conventional workflow, the Healthcare Signa Vibrant to better accomradiologist completes a preliminary read modate patients. Similarly, Breast Care Speand the ER releases the patient if no embocialists recently deployed a second Aurora lism is found. It’s not uncommon, however, system to ensure that it could accommodate for the radiologist to detect secondary findincreasing demand. ings like a pulmonary nodule during the Experienced providers stress that breast final read. The process is fraught with probMRI poses some challenges. “Patients are lems. “The finding could get lost in the anxious,” says Lynne Hildreth, executive shuffle,” says Berlin. And the ER needs to director of lifetime cancer screening and deploy staff to re-track the patient to comprevention at Moffitt Cancer Center. “Staff municate the additional finding. A well-inshould be cognizant of their anxiety, and the tegrated speech recognition solution does facility and processes should be designed to not separate acute and secondary findings, be patient-friendly, comfortable and priso physicians receive all recommendations vate.” Both technologists and radiologists [ This breast MRI image reveals an occult cancer in the and findings in one timely report. need breast imaging background to provide left breast during an evaluation of infiltrating ductal carcinoma in the right breast. Courtesy of Aurora Integration played a major role in optimal patient service. Moffitt Cancer CenImaging Technology. ] Scripps’ decision to deploy SpeechQ for ter draws on mammographers and trains Radiology. SpeechQ delivers all informathem for breast MRI review rather than tion in a single screen, which means users can view history, comusing MR generalists. Reimbursement presents another issue as prements and patient data in one location and import data right into the certifications can be time-consuming. Breast Care Specialists dedifinal report. The net result is increased efficiency and patient safety, cates 2.5 FTE to pre-certification and scheduling of 15 to 20 daily say Kris Van Lom, MD, a radiologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital. exams. Finally, sites need to consider MRI-guided biopsy capabilities. One of the primary challenges with speech recognition is compliIt’s important to offer MR-guided biopsy on the same magnet as the ance. Many radiologists are reluctant to transition to speech or selforiginal scan. Otherwise, patients may need to be referred to another edit because they believe it will slow workflow. The majority, howsite for the biopsy, resulting in delays, anxiety and inefficiencies. ever, do comply because they realize speech drives improved service and care. “The financial, operational and service benefits outweigh Speech touts multi-dimensional gains any productivity issue in many cases,” states Berlin. Health IT proponents claim technology can both cut costs and Scripps and North Shore, for example, both report compliance in improve patient care. A handful of solutions fit the bill. Take for the 70 to 80 percent range. Both sites facilitate productivity with example speech recognition. North Shore University Health System macros or templates that build standard normal or standard abnorin Chicago turned to Nuance Communications Dictaphone Powermal reports. With a template, the radiologist clicks on the area that Scribe in 2007 to improve service to referring physicians and close HealthImaging.com December 2008 | Health Imaging & IT 11 http://www.HealthImaging.com

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Health Imaging & IT - December 2008 Table of Contents The Enterprise News Update Technology at Work: What You Need to Compete Why 1.5T MRI is Leading the Pack Workflow Strategies Aid Advanced Visualization Deployment Illuminating Reading Room Design for Better Reading Strategies Cardiac SPECT Sharpens its Focus OrthoPACS: The Information Backbone of the Orthopedic Clinic Imaging Tools Reader's Resource

Health Imaging & IT - December 2008

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