Charlotte Radiology recently opted to implement the comprehensive suite of breast imaging software tools from Ikonopedia, Richardson, Tex. This includes Ikonopedia’s report generation tools for diagnostic and screening modalities, and the Automated B-RIS Tracking System, which includes the Patient Follow-up Manager to track and notify patients and the MQSA Report Management System. The installation is designed to help streamline processes, improve reporting efficiency and optimize facility operations across the Charlotte Radiology enterprise.
The Charlotte Radiology installation will begin with Ikonopedia’s report generation tools for screening modalities. Built-in metrics show a median screening report time of 33 seconds — with many under 10 seconds – and many reporting errors common with dictation such as inappropriate BI-RADS, incomplete reports, and wrong-side reporting are eliminated automatically. Reporting for diagnostic exams and the MQSA report manager and patient tracking and notification capabilities will be phased in early 2016.
“At Charlotte Radiology, we are proud of our ability to offer some of the most advanced breast imaging capabilities in the country and the fact that we deliver high quality care in a productive environment,” said Matthew Gromet, MD, chief of mammography at Charlotte Radiology. “Designed by breast imaging experts for breast imagers, we selected Ikonopedia to maintain the productivity of our reading physicians as we work to automate manual processes in our back-room operations that add cost and inefficiencies. We are also in the process of evaluating new PACS and RIS capabilities, but ensuring that we have efficient breast reporting capabilities took precedence, particularly since we know that Ikonopedia will be able to seamlessly integrate with whatever vendor we go with.”
Ikonopedia’s suite of report generation software tools includes screening MRI, diagnostic MRI, diagnostic ultrasound, and biopsy in addition to screening and diagnostic Mammography. For each modality, context-specific images and educational materials are available via a reference library drawn from the teaching files. Designed to optimize breast imaging workflow for the entire practice, Ikonopedia’s reporting tools are based on indexing breast findings based on what they look like rather than what they are called. While Ikonopedia’s proprietary drag-and-drop lesion locator has been customized for each of the reporting modalities, all have the same consistent layout for efficiency. All reports are guaranteed to be BI-RADS language compliant and current with the Atlas 5th Edition.
With more than 90 staff radiologists, Charlotte Radiology owns and operates 14 breast centers, provides coverage for 18 Carolina hospitals and provides mobile mammography services across 13 states.
