Medical imaging-quality assessment and improvement system (QAISys)
First Claim
1. A business method for improving the results of medical images using a feed back system from a radiologist to a technologist, the method comprising:
- a). displaying to the radiologist an image of a test taken by the technologist for a patient;
b). providing a means for the radiologist to evaluate the image quality;
c). providing a means for entering the evaluation of the image to a database;
d). providing a means to manipulate the data and present it in graphical, table and other data formats to the technologists, supervisor of technologists and other members of a health care providers;
e). using the data as a basis for interaction; and
f). interacting among the technologists, the supervisor of technologists, the radiologists, and the other members of the health care providers whereby the feedback and assessment of data is utilized with the technologist for his/her specific improvement of his/her capability to provide comparatively higher quality medical images and the overall quality of the medical images of the health care provider is improved.
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Abstract
The business method known as QAISys (Quality Assessment and Improvement System) is a process that rates comprehensively and continually the quality of medical images as determined by the interpreting radiologist. The output of this system conveys feedback from the radiologist to the performing technologist and his/her supervisor. This feedback enables medical radiologists, technologists, and managers to bridge any communication gaps between themselves in respect to the quality and effectiveness of medical images. It permits management to assess and track image quality for an entire medical imaging department by modality, location, and/or shift, and for each individual technologist. The QAISys method reveals the nature of recurrent quality failures and highlights which exam types need to be improved. QAISys then indicates practical, cost-effective means of assessing and improving the overall medical images for future patients.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A business method for improving the results of medical images using a feed back system from a radiologist to a technologist, the method comprising:
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a). displaying to the radiologist an image of a test taken by the technologist for a patient;
b). providing a means for the radiologist to evaluate the image quality;
c). providing a means for entering the evaluation of the image to a database;
d). providing a means to manipulate the data and present it in graphical, table and other data formats to the technologists, supervisor of technologists and other members of a health care providers;
e). using the data as a basis for interaction; and
f). interacting among the technologists, the supervisor of technologists, the radiologists, and the other members of the health care providers whereby the feedback and assessment of data is utilized with the technologist for his/her specific improvement of his/her capability to provide comparatively higher quality medical images and the overall quality of the medical images of the health care provider is improved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of managing quality improvement of medical images comprising:
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a). collecting an evaluation (by a radiologist) of a specific medical image completed by a specific technologist that performed a medical imaging test on a patient;
b). processing and storing the evaluation data of the test and various other demographic data related to the test and the patient; and
c). analyzing, displaying and reporting the data in various comparisons of the technologist, the department and other categories whereby the data is utilized with the technologist for his/her specific improvement of his/her capability to provide comparatively higher quality medical images and the overall quality of the medical images of the health care provider is improved. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A business method of managing quality improvement of medical images comprising:
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a). a patient visits a medical doctor;
b). the medical doctor prescribes a medical imaging test;
c). the patient registers at a hospital/medical clinic;
d). the patient specific data is entered into a radiology information system and/or a hospital information system at the hospital/clinic;
e). a technologist performs a medical imaging test, enters the data into the radiology information. system, and enters a digital image into a picture/image archival system;
f). the technologist at the point of the imaging test enters additional information not transferred from a radiology and/or hospital information system with respect to the equipment, test environment, including an evaluation of the patient as to test compatibility, a status of the test machine, and the code of the specific technologist into a QAISys database;
g). the digital medical image is transferred to a radiologist (at the health care facility or at remote location);
h). the radiologist reviews the image and evaluates the image;
i). the radiologist makes a test result report (audio/transcribed) with respect to the image quality and other known factors and determines a dissatisfaction value of the image created by the specific technologist;
j). a means to record and enter the various data of the medical image including the dissatisfaction value for each test into the QAISys data base in order to assign and track the data to a specific technologist'"'"'s account;
k). the QAISys database is manipulated to give results in a manageable form;
l). various analyses and statistics are performed to formulate a resultant quality rating;
m). the resultant quality ratings (numerical, graphical, and descriptive messages) may be provided by category, by location, by modality, by the individual technologist'"'"'s code, by department, and similar categories;
n). the rating is used by the technologist and his/her supervisor to establish a quality improvement plan for the individual technologist;
o). the supervisor compiles a department rating from several quality ratings for the technologists;
p). the supervisor uses the individual and department data from the technologists to plan improvement training, to provide reward opportunities, and to provide information on critical shortfalls of certain technologists; and
q). the supervisor meets with the individual technologists and the departments to address concerns and to plan quality/performance improvement whereby the data is utilized with the technologist for his/her specific improvement of his/her capability to provide comparatively higher quality medical images and the overall quality of the medical images of the health care provider is improved. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification