Improving Communication and Documentation Concerning Preliminary and Final Radiology Reports

The communication and documentation of radiology preliminary and final interpretations for the identification of discrepancies failed to evolve with radiology's transition away from film. Processes should facilitate documentation and distribution of preliminary findings to multiple practitioners in real time and should provide timely communication and documentation of additional findings. The evolution of the electronic medical record and digital radiology images provided an opportunity to establish effective, safe, and efficient methods of communication and documentation. Froedtert Hospital (Milwaukee, WI) used the Six Sigma process to improve communication and documentation of radiologic findings. Root causes of problems were determined, hypotheses were tested, and new processes were piloted and implemented. Froedtert Hospital improved its process for documenting and communicating preliminary and final interpretations and identifying discrepancies.