Teleradiology image processing system

• US 10,430,549 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virtual Radiologic Corporation (Mednax Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Virtual Radiologic Corporation (Mednax Incorporated)
• Inventors: Backhaus, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Pauls, John A
• Application Number:
  US13/966,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20140088987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,239 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A teleradiology image processing system configured to receive, process, and transmit radiology read requests and digital radiology image data is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a radiology processing system includes a series of processing components configured to receive digital radiology data from a medical provider, extract relevant information and radiology scan images from the digital radiology data, and initiate and control a workflow with a qualified remote radiologist who ultimately performs a read of the radiology scan images. Further embodiments also facilitate data processing within the image processing system in response to medical facility rules and preferences; translation or conversion of digital images to other formats; compilation of patient and medical facility data obtained from the digital radiology data into medical records or data stores; assignment of radiology studies within a teleradiology workflow in response to licensing and credentialing rules; and billing functions in response to completed reads by the remote radiologist.

Claims

1. An image processing system, comprising:

at least one hardware processor;

an image processing component comprising a plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the image processing component configured to, under computerized control;

extract data values from a set of electronic imaging data that includes a plurality of digital medical images, the plurality of digital medical images originating from a medical imaging procedure performed by a medical imaging modality at a medical facility;

a data processing component comprising a plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the data processing component configured to, under computerized control;

generate data values that identify characteristics of a diagnostic evaluation task for the plurality of digital medical images, based on the data values extracted from the set of electronic imaging data; and

determine at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task, based on medical information included in the data values from the set of electronic imaging data;

a workflow component comprising a plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the workflow component configured to, under computerized control;

generate data values for electronic worklists associated with respective evaluators, the electronic worklists to list pending diagnostic evaluation tasks designated for performance by the respective evaluators, wherein the data values are communicated to computing systems of the respective evaluators;

initiate a command to designate a particular evaluator of the respective evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the particular evaluator is designated based on a match of at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the at least one requirement of the diagnostic evaluation task; and

update the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator in response to the command to designate the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator is updated to include a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task; and

a data transmission component comprising a plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the data transmission component configured to, under computerized control;

transmit the plurality of digital medical images, via a network, to a computing device associated with the particular evaluator, in response to a command received from the particular evaluator via the electronic worklist to accept the diagnostic evaluation task from the pending state;

wherein the plurality of digital medical images are transmitted and made accessible to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, based on the acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task and management of the electronic worklist for the respective evaluators, such that the plurality of digital medical images are not transmitted to the computing systems of the respective evaluators before acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

2. The image processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a request processing component comprising a plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the request processing component configured to, under computerized control, associate the electronic imaging data with request data from a request for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, the request data including data that specifies characteristics of an analysis of the plurality of digital medical images to be performed in the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the data processing component is further configured to determine the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task based on the request data.

3. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the data processing component is further configured to determine the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task on a basis of at least one requirement applicable to the plurality of evaluators that includes:

licensing, credentialing, or specialization.

4. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a radiological image interpretation, wherein the particular evaluator is a qualified radiologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located radiologists, and wherein the workflow component is further configured to designate the particular evaluator based on a match with at least one assignment criterion, and wherein the at least one assignment criterion is used to assist the designation of the qualified radiologist from the plurality of remotely located radiologists.

5. The image processing system of claim 4, wherein the workflow component is further configured to designate the particular evaluator based on a match with information for the at least one assignment criterion, wherein the information relates to at least one of connection information for connectivity of computing devices associated with the remotely located radiologists, scheduling information for scheduled availability of the remotely located radiologists, forecasting information for projected availability of the remotely located radiologists, preference information of the remotely located radiologists, or preference information of a medical facility providing the electronic imaging data.

6. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a pathological image examination, wherein the plurality of digital medical images are pathology images, wherein the particular evaluator is a pathologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located pathologists, and wherein the diagnostic evaluation task includes a pathological examination of the digital medical images by the pathologist.

7. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the workflow component is further configured to evaluate preferences of a medical facility for performing the diagnostic evaluation task, in connection with designation of the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

8. The image processing system of claim 1, further comprising a patient information component comprising a plurality of instructions executed with the at least one hardware processor, the patient information component configured to, under computerized control, extract, correlate, and store patient information from the electronic imaging data, wherein the electronic imaging data is received in response to a performance of the medical imaging procedure at a remote location.

9. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the image processing component is further configured to transform or convert at least one of the plurality of digital medical images prior to transmission of the plurality of digital medical images to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator.

10. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators include an electronic worklist for another evaluator from the plurality of evaluators, and wherein the workflow component is further configured to:

initiate a command to designate the another evaluator to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the another evaluator is designated based on a match of at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the at least one requirement of the diagnostic evaluation task;

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to the command to designate the another evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to include a pending state for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task; and

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task by the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to remove the pending state for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions to process medical imaging data, the instructions which when executed by a computing machine cause the computing machine to perform operations that:

extract data values from a set of electronic imaging data that includes a plurality of digital medical images, the plurality of digital medical images originating from a medical imaging procedure performed by a medical imaging modality at a medical facility;

generate data values that identify characteristics of a diagnostic evaluation task for the plurality of digital medical images, based on the data values extracted from the set of electronic imaging data;

determine at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task, based on medical information included in the data values from the set of electronic imaging data;

generate data values for electronic worklists associated with respective evaluators, the electronic worklists to list pending diagnostic evaluation tasks designated for performance by the respective evaluators, wherein the data values are communicated to computing systems of the respective evaluators;

initiate a command to designate a particular evaluator of the respective evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the particular evaluator is designated based on a match of at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the at least one requirement of the diagnostic evaluation task;

update the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator in response to the command to designate the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator is updated to include a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task; and

transmit the plurality of digital medical images, via a network, to a computing device associated with the particular evaluator, in response to a command received from the particular evaluator via the electronic worklist to accept the diagnostic evaluation task from the pending state;

wherein the plurality of digital medical images are transmitted and made accessible to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, based on the acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task and management of the electronic worklist for the respective evaluators, such that the plurality of digital medical images are not transmitted to the computing systems of the respective evaluators before acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the computing machine to further perform operations that:

associate the electronic imaging data with request data from a request for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, the request data including data that specifies characteristics of an analysis of the plurality of digital medical images to be performed in the diagnostic evaluation task;

wherein the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task is further determined based on the request data from the request for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the computing machine to further perform operations that:

determine the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task on a basis of at least one requirement applicable to the plurality of evaluators that includes;

licensing, credentialing, or specialization.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a radiological image interpretation, wherein the particular evaluator is a qualified radiologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located radiologists, and wherein the at least one assignment criterion assists the designation of the qualified radiologist from the plurality of remotely located radiologists.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions cause the computing machine to further perform operations that:

designate the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task based on a match with information for the at least one assignment criterion, wherein the information relates to at least one of connection information for connectivity of computing devices associated with the remotely located radiologists, scheduling information for scheduled availability of the remotely located radiologists, forecasting information for projected availability of the remotely located radiologists, preference information of the remotely located radiologists, or preference information of a medical facility providing the electronic imaging data.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators include an electronic worklist for another evaluator from the plurality of evaluators, and wherein the instructions cause the computing machine to further perform operations that:

initiate a command to designate the another evaluator to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the another evaluator is designated based on a match of at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the at least one requirement of the diagnostic evaluation task;

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to the command to designate the another evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to include a pending state for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task; and

update the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task by the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to remove the pending state for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

17. A method for processing medical images in a workflow through use of an image processing system, the image processing system comprising at least one hardware processor configured to perform operations, the operations including:

extracting data values from a set of electronic imaging data that includes a plurality of digital medical images, the plurality of digital medical images originating from a medical imaging procedure performed by a medical imaging modality at a medical facility;

generating data values that identify characteristics of a diagnostic evaluation task for the plurality of digital medical images, based on the data values extracted from the set of electronic imaging data;

determining at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task, based on medical information included in the data values from the set of electronic imaging data;

generating data values for electronic worklists associated with respective evaluators, the electronic worklists to list pending diagnostic evaluation tasks designated for performance by the respective evaluators, wherein the data values are communicated to computing systems of the respective evaluators;

initiating a command to designate a particular evaluator of the respective evaluators to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the particular evaluator is designated based on a match of at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the at least one requirement of the diagnostic evaluation task;

updating the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator in response to the command to designate the particular evaluator;

wherein the electronic worklist for the particular evaluator is updated to include a pending state for the diagnostic evaluation task; and

transmitting the plurality of digital medical images, via a network, to a computing device associated with the particular evaluator, in response to a command received from the particular evaluator via the electronic worklist to accept the diagnostic evaluation task from the pending state;

wherein the plurality of digital medical images are transmitted and made accessible to the computing device associated with the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, based on the acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task and management of the electronic worklist for the respective evaluators, such that the plurality of digital medical images are not transmitted to the computing systems of the respective evaluators before acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

associating the electronic imaging data with request data from a request for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task, the request data including data that specifies characteristics of an analysis of the plurality of digital medical images to be performed in the diagnostic evaluation task;

wherein the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task is further determined based on the request data.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining the at least one requirement for the diagnostic evaluation task on a basis of at least one requirement of the plurality of evaluators that includes;

licensing, credentialing, or specialization.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

further designating the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task based on a match with at least one assignment criterion, wherein the diagnostic evaluation task of the plurality of digital medical images involves a radiological image interpretation, wherein the particular evaluator is a qualified radiologist and wherein the plurality of evaluators includes a plurality of remotely located radiologists, and wherein the at least one assignment criterion assists the designation of the qualified radiologist from the plurality of remotely located radiologists.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

further designating the particular evaluator for performance of the diagnostic evaluation task based on a match with information for the at least one assignment criterion, the particular evaluator being one of a plurality of remotely located radiologists, the information relating to at least one of;

connection information for connectivity of computing devices associated with the remotely located radiologists, scheduling information for scheduled availability of the remotely located radiologists, forecasting information for projected availability of the remotely located radiologists, preference information of the remotely located radiologists, or preference information of a medical facility providing the electronic imaging data.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic worklists associated with the respective evaluators include an electronic worklist for another evaluator from the plurality of evaluators, and wherein the operations further include:

initiating a command to designate the another evaluator to perform the diagnostic evaluation task, wherein the another evaluator is designated based on a match of at least one qualification of the particular evaluator with the at least one requirement of the diagnostic evaluation task;

updating the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to the command to designate the another evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to include a pending state for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task; and

updating the electronic worklist for the another evaluator in response to acceptance of the diagnostic evaluation task by the particular evaluator, wherein the electronic worklist for the another evaluator is updated to remove the pending state for the performance of the diagnostic evaluation task.