How A Large Healthcare System Reduced Variation In Radiology Reports

Healthcare is the backbone of any country. If the healthcare system of a nation is not sound, the chances are slim that the nation would ever be able to register steady growth. Healthcare decides the overall quality of human resources, which, in turn, is a critical component of economic prosperity and growth of a country.

When it comes to healthcare sector services, radiology is one of the most important ones can think of.  As far as the treatment of diseases is concerned, the precise diagnostic is the first step towards healing. If you cannot detect the problem, you cannot offer the right solution as well. Likewise, without identifying the disease correctly, one cannot expect to treat rightly. Hence, a lot depends on the diagnostic part of the treatment method, which is the first and the most important one.

So far as the current scenario is concerned, radiology has become one of the most critical and contributing departments responsible for assisting the diagnostic processes. Physicians these days depend a lot on the radiology results for diagnosis. Especially for diseases, which come with little symptoms, knowing the exact condition of the organs becomes a critical part.

The department of radiology can be of much help in making the detection of the problems easier and flawless. Radiology refers to the method of taking pictures of the organs of the body to understand their functionalities and condition properly to ensure correct diagnosis of the problem if any. Ultra-sound, MRI scan, CT scan, etc. ate some of the varieties of radiology done for detecting the condition of different parts of the body.

The methods of radiology are also used during the treatment sessions to comprehend the progress of the treatment and the response of the patient to the drug administered. Hence, radiology is not only a process that helps in making flawless diagnostics; it is also a helpful technique to remain updated about the conditions of the body as and when required. For cancer patients, people with neurological troubles, etc., radiology is essential and probably the most effective way out to ensure that the treatment continues seamlessly and accurately.

The Problem With Templates

Therefore, physicians depend a lot on the reports issued by the radiologists to detect the disease and continue their treatment procedures. Hence, it is of paramount importance that the doctors get to comprehend the reports properly and without any confusion to avoid any hassle during the treatment process.

However, one thing that has always remained as a bone of contention is the variety of report templates available. If a patient gets tested by two different radiologists for the same disease, it is more likely that the two reports will reflect the same observations and conclusions written using various templates. The discrepancy in language and models used sometimes makes the process of diagnosis and treatment confusing for the physicians. Hence, it becomes a problem for the doctor as well as the patients to understand what the report is actually trying to convey at times.

Had there been a standard or integrated template for specific diseases, the reports of the radiologist would have matched perfectly to render a cohesive meaning easy to comprehend. At present, 19,687 models exist which get used for making the reports. Admittedly, it is a massive number for templates, and no wonder such variety creates confusion for the referees as well as the patients.

The Simplified And Consolidated Templates

However, every problem has a solution. A large academic medical center has recently undertaken a quality improvement project that attempted to reduce the number of templates the radiology departments currently work with. After tedious research, this team has successfully reduced the number, from a staggering 19,687 to a humble 597.  As the numbers suggest, it is almost a 97% reduction and is wonderful for those who will be referring to the reports going ahead.

This reduction in the number of templates simply suggests that the radiology departments will cut short on the variety of reports, and the physicians would no longer be having tough times interpreting the same reports written differently. This will surely reduce a substantial share of time of treatment. The doctors will be having more time to treat more patients every day and will also be able to provide top-notch health care services at the same time.

Clarity is the first thing that every report must have to ensure accurate detection beyond any doubts, this reduction in radiology templates is undoubtedly going to make the entire process of treatment more comprehensive, precise, time-saving, and useful.

We at SepStream®, offer the best solutions at reasonable rates. We integrate the best of the available techniques to ensure top-notch services for all our clients. We emphasize individual needs more than template solutions, which make our services strictly customer-friendly. Our team of experts takes care of every need of our clients to make the solutions and services customized.