Workflow Steps in Radiology

Abstract

The understanding of workflow in Radiology is, properly, part of the larger domains of business process analysis (BPA) and business process modeling (BPM), for which extensive literature exists in the business administration literature outside of imaging informatics. However, some special and particular aspects of digital image management, such as the specific technical mechanisms of DICOM and HL7, as well as the interactions of these two standards and other emerging standards, need to be addressed to fully understand how data and processes interact in the context of a fully digital imaging environment. Fortunately, the integrating the healthcare enterprise (IHE) frameworks offer particularly useful models that specifically address and leverage both HL7 and DICOM capabilities in regard to workflow. Further, it is increasingly important

Self-Assessment Questions

• 1. Which of these is NOT a usual element of radiologist workflow?

  • a. obtain images

  • b. convey unexpected findings

  • c. protocol ongoing cases

  • d. collect clinical data

• 2. Which of these is NOT a usual element of technologist workflow?

  • a. send images to PACS

  • b. check images for quality

  • c. postprocess the study to create new images

  • d. bring the patient to the radiology department

• 3. Which of these is NOT a usual element of clinician workflow?

  • a. order study

  • b. dictate radiology reports

  • c. review radiologist report

  • d. provide clinical data

• 4. Which of these is NOT an IHE integration profile?

  • a. reporting workflow

  • b. evidence documents

  • c. consistent presentation of images

  • d. procedure step

• 5. Which of these is NOT a hierarchical IHE component?

  • a. postprocessing

  • b. order

  • c. requested procedure

  • d. worklist

• 6. Imagine transitioning to paperless workflow in your department. Think of idiosyncratic or unpredictable ways that paper is used that would need to be replaced.

• 7. Think of questions you would ask a vendor to make sure that their product has the IHE profiles you need.