When radiologists perform image-guided procedures, they need to use information from the electronic medical record (EMR) to determine whether the biopsy specimen was adequate and find out the final pathological diagnosis. However, radiologists are often isolated to their own information systems -- the RIS and PACS, said lead author Dr. Jonelle Petscavage-Thomas of Pennsylvania State University's Hershey Medical Center.
Because these systems are not often integrated into the EMR, the radiologists must keep a running list -- either electronically or on paper -- of their performed procedures and then make a conscious effort to manually follow up on all of those cases. Working with one of its vendors, the institution implemented a more efficient method for radiologists to correlate radiology and pathology results. Now, radiologists receive an email on the PACS software when the pathology report has been signed, Petscavage-Thomas said.
"This way, the pathology information system and radiology information systems are 'integrated' in the eyes of the radiologists," she told AuntMinnie.com.
When they receive the email, radiologists can click on an icon to launch the image in the PACS for review.
"This has saved time for the radiologists and made their lives more efficient," Petscavage-Thomas said.
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