Case Studies

In order for radiologists to generate the most value for their patients and referring providers, they need to be equipped with all the right tools during their workflow. That includes adequate context in the form of patient data.

Click. Click. Click. An excessive number of mouse clicks—and subsequent ticking of the clock—is not something radiologists want to hear when interpreting an image.

Hailing a taxi used to be a low-tech process. You'd walk out to the street and raise your hand, sometimes whistle, and a nearby cab would see you and take you on your way. Then came Uber.

That old saying "jack of all trades, master of none" can be applied to medical imaging. Even the bright minds that make up the radiology workforce need focused training and years of specific experience in order to understand all the intricacies of the profession, and there's one area in particular where specialized expertise is particularly valuable: mammography.

It's hard to get things done when you're constantly being interrupted. This applies to any task, but is especially true for demanding tasks requiring focused concentration-like interpreting a medical image.

It's no secret that workflows in radiology are changing. A number of factors are impacting interpretation volume, while cutting-edge technologies are transforming how radiologists work.

Workflow engines have been deployed in a number of different industries and professions, from streamlining manufacturing to helping large law firms stay on task. Could workflow engines solve efficiency problems in radiology? Bradley J. Erickson, MD, PhD, suspects they can.

It's been a year and a half since Nuance Communications launched the Nuance PowerShare Network. It did so by acquiring the cloud-based medical image sharing company Accelarad and expanding its platform into a powerful web-based exchange for combined images and reports.

Due to improvements in both technology and the quality of patient care, there are currently more images being used in the healthcare industry than ever before.

Today, imaging has truly gone enterprise-wide, with medical centers needing to optimize their processes and technology to accommodate images from cardiology, pathology, dermatology and more.

Radiology can provide immense value to the healthcare system, not only through accurate diagnostic interpretations, but by helping direct the appropriate use of imaging.

Can advances and efficiencies in digital radiography (DR) technology improve patients’ perceptions of the x-ray department—and, in the process, help boost hospitals’ HCAHPS scores—ultimately leading to smarter marketing, maximized reimbursement and increased patient volume?