Mammography operational management system and method

• US 20060212317A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NU Design Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NU Design Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Krocak, Ryan M., Hahn, Jerad J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,428,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• 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

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method in a computer system is provided for managing mammography examination information. The method includes receiving electronically personal information of a patient, such as name, demographic information, and insurance information. Next, digital mammography images of the patient are produced by a modality for a screening examination and/or diagnostic examination, and mammography procedure results data is generated that reflect the results of a procedure examination, such as a biopsy. Then, the personal information, digital images, and procedure data of the user are stored in a database and are logically linked to each other. When a system user, such as a radiologist, is prepared to interpret examination results, the digital images and procedure data of the user are electronically displayed to the user responsive to a user request. At least a first portion of the digital images is electronically retrieved from the database, and at least a second portion of the digital images is retrieved from a Picture Archive and Communications System (PACS). Data from the user representing a medical interpretation of the digital images and procedure data are received, and a medical report based on the medical interpretation is automatically generated responsive to receipt of the interpretation.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for managing mammography examination information, the method comprising:

receiving electronically personal information of a patient;

receiving electronically digital images produced from at least one of a screening examination performed on the patient and a diagnostic examination performed on the patient;

receiving electronically for a procedure examination performed on the patient procedure data indicative of results of the procedure examination;

storing and logically associating said personal information, said digital images, and said procedure data of the patient in at least one computer-readable storage medium;

displaying to a user said digital images and said procedure data responsive to a selection by said user requesting said digital images, wherein at least a first portion of said digital images are electronically retrieved from said computer-readable storage medium and wherein at least a second portion of said digital images are retrieved from a Picture Archive and Communications System (PACS);

receiving electronically data from said user representative of a medical interpretation of said displayed digital images and said procedure data; and

generating automatically, responsive to receipt of said medical interpretation, a medical report based on said medical interpretation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital images are received from a mammography modality.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the mammography modality operates responsive to a predetermined worklist such that said worklist defines actions performed by the mammography modality.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the step of performing a quality control test on the mammography modality responsive to receipt of at least one quality control test parameter.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said digital images are displayed to the user on a soft copy workstation configured to display said digital images.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating automatically, responsive to receipt of said medical interpretation, a patient letter based on said medical interpretation.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of electronically storing said medical interpretation and logically associating said medical interpretation with the patient.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said personal information, said digital images, said procedure data, and said medical interpretation are logically searchable such that search results conforming to at least one search criterion are displayed responsive to receipt of said at least one search criterion.

9. A computer system for managing mammography examination information, the computer system comprising:

a modality for capturing digital mammography images of at least one of a screening examination performed on a patient and a diagnostic examination performed on the patient;

a computer-readable medium for storing said digital mammography images; and

a processor for receiving procedure data indicative of results of a procedure examination performed on the patient, logically linking said digital mammography images and said procedure data of the patient, and displaying to a user said digital mammography images and said procedure data of the patient.

10. The computer system as recited in claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to receive and analyze a predetermined worklist defining actions performed by the modality.

11. The computer system as recited in claim 9, wherein said processor is configured to perform a quality control test on the modality responsive to receipt of at least on quality control test parameter.

12. The computer system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a soft copy workstation configured to display said digital mammography images to said user.

13. The computer system as recited in claim 9, wherein the computer-readable medium receives and stores a medical interpretation of said digital mammography images and said procedure data.

14. The computer system as recited in claim 13, wherein the processor logically associates said medical interpretation with the patient.

15. A method for integrating and managing mammography examination information, the method comprising:

receiving personal information of a patient;

receiving digital images produced from at least one of a screening examination performed on the patient and a diagnostic examination performed on the patient;

receiving for a procedure examination performed on the patient procedure data indicative of results of the procedure examination;

storing and logically associating said personal information, said digital images, and said procedure data of the patient, wherein said personal information, said digital images, and said procedure data of the patient are physically stored collectively;

providing to a user said digital images and said procedure data responsive to a selection by said user requesting said digital images, wherein at least a portion of said digital images are retrieved from a Picture Archive and Communications System (PACS);

receiving data from said user representative of a medical interpretation of said displayed digital images and said procedure data; and

generating, responsive to receipt of said medical interpretation, a medical report based on said medical interpretation.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the digital images are received from a mammography modality.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the mammography modality operates responsive to a predetermined worklist such that said worklist defines actions performed by the mammography modality.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of performing a quality control test on the mammography modality responsive to receipt of at least one quality control test parameter.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of storing said medical interpretation and logically associating said medical interpretation with the patient.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said personal information, said digital images, said procedure data, and said medical interpretation are logically searchable such that search results conforming to at least one search criterion are displayed responsive to receipt of said at least one search criterion.