DEWEY: The DICOM-Enabled Workflow Engine System
- 284 Downloads
- 2 Citations
Abstract
Workflow is a widely used term to describe the sequence of steps to accomplish a task. The use of workflow technology in medicine and medical imaging in particular is limited. In this article, we describe the application of a workflow engine to improve workflow in a radiology department. We implemented a DICOM-enabled workflow engine system in our department. We designed it in a way to allow for scalability, reliability, and flexibility. We implemented several workflows, including one that replaced an existing manual workflow and measured the number of examinations prepared in time without and with the workflow system. The system significantly increased the number of examinations prepared in time for clinical review compared to human effort. It also met the design goals defined at its outset. Workflow engines appear to have value as ways to efficiently assure that complex workflows are completed in a timely fashion.
Keywords
Workflow management System architecture DICOM Business process managementReferences
- 1.Ammenwerth E, et al: Evaluation of health information systems–problems and challenges. Int J Med Inform 71:125–35, 2003PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 2.Cheng C, et al. The effects of CPOE on ICU workflow: an observational study. AMIA Annual Symposium, p. 150-154, 2003Google Scholar
- 3.Lenz R, Reichert M: Business Process Management — Where business processes and web services meet, IT support for healthcare processes – premises, challenges, perspectives. Data Knowl Eng 61(1):39–58, 2007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 4.Luo Z, et al: Exception handling in workflow systems. Appl Intell 13:125–47, 2000CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 5.Mans R, et al. Implementation of a Healthcare Process in Four Different Workflow Systems, 2009Google Scholar
- 6.von Berg J, Schmidt J, Wendler T: Business process integration for distributed applications in radiology. in Distributed Objects and Applications, 2001. IEEE, Rome, 2001Google Scholar
- 7.Huser V, et al: Implementation of workflow engine technology to deliver basic clinical decision support functionality. BMC Med Res Methodol 11(43):1–19, 2011Google Scholar
- 8.Blezek DJ, et al: Image workflow management using the Advanced Medical Imaging Solution (AMIS). in Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery 2010. CARS, Geneva, 2010Google Scholar
- 9.Medicine, S.f.I.I.i. TRIP Workflow Project & Nomenclature. 2011 [cited 2011 Dec 19, 2011]; Available from: http://www.siimweb.org/trip/.
- 10.Radiological Society of North America. RadLex. 2011 [cited 2011 Dec 19, 2011]; Available from: http://www.rsna.org/radlex/.
- 11.dcm4che.org Open Source Clinical Image and Object Management. [cited 2012 June 12, 2012]; Available from: http://www.dcm4che.org/.
- 12.Business Process Model and Notation. [cited 2012 June 18, 2012]; Available from: http://www.BPMN.org.
- 13.Yang X, et al: Computer-aided detection of intracranial aneurysms in MR angiography. J Digit Imaging 24(1):86–95, 2011PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 14.Schellingerhout D, et al: Coregistration of head CT comparison studies: assessment of clinical utility. Acad Radiol 10(3):242–8, 2003PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 15.Erickson, B.J., et al. Impact of Automated Image Registration on Image Interpretation. in Society for Computer Applications in Radiology. 2005. Orlando, FL.Google Scholar
- 16.Erickson BJ, et al: Image registration improves confidence and accuracy of image interpretation. Cancer Informat 4:19–24, 2007Google Scholar
- 17.Patriarche JW, Erickson BJ: Part 1 Automated change detection and characterization in serial MR studies of brain-tumor patients. J Digit Imaging: Off J Soc Comput Appl Radiol 20(3):203–22, 2007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 18.Patriarche JW, Erickson BJ: Part 2 Automated change detection and characterization applied to serial MR of brain tumors may detect progression earlier than human experts. J Digit Imaging: Off J Soc Comput Appl Radiol 20(4):321–8, 2007CrossRefGoogle Scholar