Medical imaging-quality assessment and improvement system (QAISys)
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for determining at least one cause for production of unsatisfactory medical images produced within a set of medical imaging exams, the method comprising:
- (a) identifying one or more parameters capable of affecting said production of said unsatisfactory images;
(b) assigning dissatisfaction values to said unsatisfactory images wherein said assigning involves assigning dissatisfaction values reflecting levels of dissatisfaction;
(c) providing a computer generated correlation of a plurality of said dissatisfaction values for said set of medical imaging exams having a number of exams therein, and said one or more parameters identified to generate a numerical measure of dissatisfaction associated with said one or more parameters within said set of medical imaging exams; and
(d) assigning said cause for said unsatisfactory images to at least one parameter based on said measure of dissatisfaction for the purpose of improving image quality by taking a corrective action related to said cause;
wherein said providing a computer generated correlation involves generating a measure of dissatisfaction for said set of medical imaging exams which reflects a ratio of (a) a measure of dissatisfaction derived from said dissatisfaction values and (b) said number of exams within said set of medical imaging exams.
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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
8 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for determining at least one cause for production of unsatisfactory medical images produced within a set of medical imaging exams, the method comprising:
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(a) identifying one or more parameters capable of affecting said production of said unsatisfactory images; (b) assigning dissatisfaction values to said unsatisfactory images wherein said assigning involves assigning dissatisfaction values reflecting levels of dissatisfaction; (c) providing a computer generated correlation of a plurality of said dissatisfaction values for said set of medical imaging exams having a number of exams therein, and said one or more parameters identified to generate a numerical measure of dissatisfaction associated with said one or more parameters within said set of medical imaging exams; and (d) assigning said cause for said unsatisfactory images to at least one parameter based on said measure of dissatisfaction for the purpose of improving image quality by taking a corrective action related to said cause; wherein said providing a computer generated correlation involves generating a measure of dissatisfaction for said set of medical imaging exams which reflects a ratio of (a) a measure of dissatisfaction derived from said dissatisfaction values and (b) said number of exams within said set of medical imaging exams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification