IMPROVING REPORT TURNAROUND TIME - AN INTEGRATED METHOD USING DATA FROM A RADIOLOGY INFORMATION-SYSTEM

OBJECTIVE, In the face of a changing health care system and increased competition, radiology departments need to become more efficient. One measurement of efficiency is promptness in producing a final report. Many large radiology centers have radiology information systems (RIS) that track work flow, collecting tremendous amounts of data. Most, how ever, lack an appropriate analytic mechanism. We have developed an int egrated system that allows continual monitoring of radiology work flow and thus of opportunities to apply interventions. This system can for m an important component of the quality management process in the radi ology department. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In developing the system, we identified seven key steps in the work-flow process. When left to chan ce, these steps occur out of sequence and large delays occur. A scheme was devised to improve the sequencing of the work flow by using the d ata collected from the RIS, sorted by radiology division and patient t ype. Biweekly, the appropriate data file is transferred to each divisi on for analysis, via the department's computer network. A one-step pro cess follows, using desktop Macintosh computers and a custom program w ritten in Microsoft Excel. Extracted data are quickly converted into a tailored division summary, and a report is automatically generated. R ESULTS. The result summary format is uniform throughout the department , allowing ease of review at divisional and departmental meetings. Pro blems can be immediately localized to a specific step in the work-flow process. Automation of much of the system allows continual, near-real -time review of work flow. Using this approach, we have seen a sustain ed reduction of average report turnaround time. CONCLUSION. This syste m allows continual monitoring of work flow It is largely automated and lends itself well to inclusion in the quality management program of a ny radiology department.