Diagnostic imaging reporting guidelines
Project leader: A/Prof Stacy Goergen
Literature review author: Dr Felicity Pool
This project focuses on the nature of the radiology report:
- What style of report is most effective in ensuring good communication and "handover" of the responsibility for the patient between radiologist and referrer?
- What basic elements should be contained in a report?
- What do referrers and radiologists think and is this the same?
- Are there ways of expressing information relating to radiology procedures that are clearer and less likely to lead to misinterpretation and thus mismanagement and/or litigation?
Methodology:
- Literature review to identify the current trends and opinions regarding content and structure of written radiology reports in terms of:
- Improvement in communication between radiologists and referrers
- Reduction of risk of adverse patient outcomes arising as a result of ambiguous communication
- Survey of providers and referrers regarding their views on what constitutes a high quality written radiology report
- Development of suggested principles for written radiology reports based on the findings from the literature review and survey