Our final destination on the Road to RSNA is imaging informatics -- specifically PACS, cybersecurity, structured reporting, clinical decision support (CDS), analytics, and issues regarding patient access to radiology results. For previews of papers on artificial intelligence (AI) or advanced visualization topics, please also check out our Road to RSNA Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Visualization previews.
Imaging informatics researchers will journey to Chicago ready to discuss approaches on how to improve radiology reports, particularly via adoption of structured reporting. Presentations will highlight, for example, how structured reporting can improve the diagnosis and staging of endometriosis on pelvic MRI, as well as enhance the clarity and standardization of reports. Another presentation will showcase the potential of audiovisual reports produced via screen capture software and a video reporting tool.
Not surprisingly, clinical decision support remains a key topic of interest. After years of delays, adoption of new Medicare rules mandating consultation of an approved CDS mechanism prior to ordering advanced imaging studies is finally at hand. An educational and testing year will begin on January 1, 2020, with full implementation commencing on January 1, 2021.
But CDS isn't just for referring physicians; radiologists also can benefit from the technology. One presentation will describe how a computer-assisted reporting and decision-support system can yield a host of benefits for radiologists, including enhanced agreement with care guidelines and better report standardization and completeness.
Researchers are also applying analytics to investigate and solve problems, including analyzing DICOM image headers to drive image quality optimization and standardization in digital radiography. In addition, analytics can predict delays in on-call radiology scans and interpretations, as well as optimize patient scheduling, according to two other talks at the meeting. Other presenters will discuss the use of simulation software to target investments for quality improvement initiatives, such as pursuing faster turnaround times on urgent CT cases from the emergency department.
Informatics can also help with the crucial task of communicating clinically significant radiology results -- both to referring physicians and patients. One presentation will describe how an informatics approach helped Thomas Jefferson University comply with a new state law in Pennsylvania mandating notification of patients who have significant abnormalities.
A team of researchers from Yale University will also present a pair of poster sessions to help other institutions prepare for the arduous process of PACS replacement.
See below for our previews of select imaging informatics-related scientific presentations and posters at RSNA 2019. Of course, these are just a sample of the imaging informatics content planned for the meeting. For more information on those talks, as well as other abstracts and refresher courses, view the RSNA 2019 meeting program.
