Hong Yang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Laurie A. Perry RN, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Rose Martin RT, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kathleen Helme Emery MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Timothy OConnor MBA, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Alex Towbin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Author, Amirsys Inc Shareholder, Merge Healthcare Incorporated Consultant, Guerbet SA

In order to improve diagnostic performance of musculoskeletal MRI we compare our diagnostic reports against actual surgical report findings. Historically, this involved a cumbersome paper-based process whereby both reports were printed, reviewed by a division chief, and any discrepancies annotated. The annotated reports were then sent to the radiologist for review. In order to simplify this process and begin to understand our overall performance, a web-based peer-review application was developed.

The report correlator system was created as a web-based, database application which allows an administrator to easily prepare cases to be scored by staff radiologists. With the administrator’s guidance, the system automatically uploads and extracts the impression and findings from the MRI Radiology report for individual scoring. The corresponding surgical report is then copied into the application from the electronic medical record. Once the data is uploaded, it is available to radiologists for peer-review. Cases are scored in a blinded manner using the surgical report as the gold-standard. Radiologists cannot score their own cases or view the scored cases of their colleagues. The division chief and department chairperson can review scoring for all cases. Once a radiologist logs in, he or she is given a choice to perform a review of newly added cases or view the surgical correlation for cases in which they provided the initial interpretation.

The system has been deployed for our musculoskeletal division as a pilot evaluation with a limited number of radiologists. Based on pilot feedback, reporting tools will be added to allow individual radiologists to anonymously compare their performance to their peers. As this system expands, we anticipate that it will also be used as a tool for radiology-surgical pathology correlation.

Using an electronic, peer review system to correlate and score musculoskeletal MRI reports with surgical findings provides a necessary tool to evaluate diagnostic performance and provide educational feedback to our faculty.

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Yang, H, Perry, L, Martin, R, Emery, K, OConnor, T, Towbin, A, Imaging—Surgery Correlation Application.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14018983.html