New Radiology Communication Center enhances patient safety, experience
Diagnostic Radiology and Biomedical Imaging recently implemented a Radiology Communication Center (RCC) designed to track, support and enhance critical results, incidental findings and follow-up exam communications to improve patient care.
“The Radiology Communications Center improves workflow efficiency in medical imaging by tracking patients from their initial imaging appointments and coordinating necessary follow-up,” said Emily Amento Haverly, RCC senior service coordinator. “This will ensure that patients get to the right spot in the hospital at the right time so there are no gaps in treatment.”
The RCC supports closed-loop communication of critical imaging results – ensuring results are sent, received and followed up on. Closed-loop communication is central to patient-centered care and high-reliability practice.
Features of the new RCC process include:
- The RCC and new functions in Epic will replace the Veriphy automated system for reporting critical results from Radiology. Findings that show a life-threatening concern will prompt a direct conversation with the radiologist.
- Clinical staff will begin to see some urgent findings displayed as pop-ups in patient charts in Epic.
- Non-urgent but unexpected findings will appear as inbox notifications. These findings can be closed with new buttons that will be added in chart review.
- The Y-note program also includes a system that will track any recommended follow-up imaging. The RCC will send reminders if these studies are not ordered.
- Acknowledging findings in Epic will allow for closed-loop communications, with fewer phone calls, faxes and voicemails from Radiology.
The Radiology Communications Center launched Feb. 22 at Yale New Haven Hospital locations, the Bridgeport Hospital Milford Campus and the BH ambulatory locations. It will be implemented at remaining YNHHS delivery networks over the next few months.
The RCC is available 24/7 at 475-246-8135. Questions? contact Emily Amento Haverly
[email protected].
