Leveraging Technology to Improve Radiology Workflow

Artificial intelligence: Advances and new frontiers in medical imaging

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been entwined with the field of radiology ever since digital imaging began replacing films over half a century ago. These algorithms, ranging from simplistic speech-to-text dictation programs to automated interpretation neural networks, have continuously sought to revolutionize medical imaging. With the number of imaging studies outpacing the amount of trained of readers, AI has been implemented to streamline workflow efficiency and provide quantitative, standardized interpretation. AI relies on massive amounts of data for its algorithms to function, and with the wide-spread adoption of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), imaging data is accumulating rapidly. Current AI algorithms using machine-learning technology, or computer aided-detection, have been able to successfully pool this data for clinical use, although the scope of these algorithms remains narrow. Many systems have been developed to assist the workflow of the radiologist through PACS optimization and imaging study triage, however interpretation has generally remained a human responsibility for now. In this review article, we will summarize the current successes and limitations of AI in radiology, and explore the exciting prospects that deep-learning technology offers for the future.

Identifying Opportunities for Workflow Automation in Health Care: Lessons Learned from Other Industries

Background  Workflow automation, which involves identifying sequences of tasks that can be streamlined by using technology and modern computing, offers opportunities to address the United States health care system's challenges with quality, safety, and efficiency. Other industries have successfully implemented workflow automation to address these concerns, and lessons learned from those experiences may inform its application in health care.

Objective  Our aim was to identify and synthesize (1) current approaches in workflow automation across industries, (2) opportunities for applying workflow automation in health care, and (3) considerations for designing and implementing workflow automation that may be relevant to health care.

Methods  We conducted a targeted review of peer-reviewed and gray literature on automation approaches. We identified relevant databases and terms to conduct the searches across sources and reviewed abstracts to identify 123 relevant articles across 11 disciplines.

Results  Workflow automation is used across industries such as finance, manufacturing, and travel to increase efficiency, productivity, and quality. We found automation ranged from low to full automation, and this variation was associated with task and technology characteristics. The level of automation is linked to how well a task is defined, whether a task is repetitive, the degree of human intervention and decision-making required, and the sophistication of available technology. We found that identifying automation goals and assessing whether those goals were reached was critical, and ongoing monitoring and improvement would help to ensure successful automation.

Conclusion  Use of workflow automation in other industries can inform automating health care workflows by considering the critical role of people, process, and technology in design, testing, implementation, use, and ongoing monitoring of automated workflows. Insights gained from other industries will inform an interdisciplinary effort by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to outline priorities for advancing health care workflow automation.

Artificial Intelligence in Radiology: Summary of the AUR Academic Radiology and Industry Leaders Roundtable

The AUR Academic Radiology and Industry Leaders Roundtable was organized as an open discussion between academic leaders of top US academic radiology departments and industry leaders from top companies that provide equipment and services to radiology, including manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, software developers and electronic medical record (EMR) providers. The format was that of a structured brainstorming session with pre-selected discussion topics. This roundtable was instrumental in widening perspectives and providing insights into the challenges and opportunities for our specialty, such as in the case of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Fostering a Healthy AI Ecosystem for Radiology: Conclusions of the 2018 RSNA Summit on AI in Radiology

The 2018 RSNA Summit on AI in Radiology brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to identify and prioritize areas of need related to artificial intelligence in radiology. This article presents the proceedings of the summit with emphasis on RSNA's role in leading, organizing, and catalyzing change during this important time in radiology. © RSNA, 2019.