ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to develop a software system that allows easy and rapid input of digital radiology images and text reports, at the time of interpretation, into an easily searchable electronic teaching file database using the Internet and the World-Wide Web protocols, servers, and browsers. CONCLUSION: Using the Internet, the World-Wide Web, and our software system, we can rapidly input digital radiology images and associated text reports into an easily searchable database accessed by privileged users. This inexpensive and simple method for building a digital teaching file database allows cross-platform access for users who have a Web browser.
Subject(s)
Computer Communication Networks , Radiology Information Systems , Radiology/education , Software , Teaching/methods , Computer Security , Database Management Systems , Databases as Topic , Humans , Hypermedia , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , User-Computer InterfaceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the potential frequency of adverse patient outcomes resulting from erroneous preliminary radiology reports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors determined the number of preliminary radiology reports that changed substantively between the preliminary and final version during a 10-day collection period. They analyzed 200 of 1,648 reports to determine the potential for adverse outcome. RESULTS: Only 5.6% of the preliminary radiology reports were changed substantively. Two percent of all reports contained changes that would have led to additional testing or treatment and, possibly, increased morbidity. CONCLUSION: Immediate electronic transfer of a preliminary radiology report results in a small but important number of adverse outcomes; however, if a final edited report follows within 24 hours and referring physicians are called whenever the preliminary report contains erroneous information, the benefits of rapid information transmission may outweigh the additional risks.