In addition, structured reporting can contribute to the development of advanced decision-support tools, including AI and machine learning algorithms. By leveraging large datasets generated from structured reports, these technologies can identify patterns, generate predictions, and provide evidence-based recommendations, further enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and relevance of radiology reporting and diagnostics.
The implementation of structured reporting ultimately paves the way for more data-driven, multi-disciplinary approaches to diagnostic medicine. By automating the collection and curation of clinical data, structured reporting becomes instrumental in advancing patient care, furthering medical research, and supporting the continuous growth of healthcare innovation.
Structured reporting’s role in reducing burnout and enhancing patient care
The steady increase in the number of studies radiologists must interpret, coupled with rising burnout rates, has been widely discussed for some time4,5. The field of radiology is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the convergence of technological advancements and evolving patient care needs. At the heart of this transformation lies a fundamental shift in reporting practices that promises to revolutionize the way radiologists interact with medical images and contribute to patient care.
Incorporating structured reporting into radiology workflows not only enhances the overall consistency and clarity of reports but also significantly reduces the administrative burden faced by radiologists. One particularly advantageous aspect of structured reporting is its capacity to seamlessly integrate and “pull in” data from other healthcare systems, such as electronic medical records (EMR) and picture archiving and communication systems (PACSs), directly into the report. This streamlined process can significantly decrease the time spent on manual data entry and cross-referencing between various systems, leading to more efficient report generation and reduced workload.
Moreover, by avoiding manual data entry, the risk of errors stemming from issues like mistyping or incorrect manual calculations can be substantially minimized. Consequently, this improved efficiency allows radiologists to focus on more critical aspects of patient care, fostering a better work-life balance by reducing stress and fatigue associated with time-consuming administrative tasks. By alleviating the burden on radiologists, structured reporting contributes to creating a more sustainable and satisfying work environment, ultimately supporting the delivery of high-quality care and enhanced patient outcomes.
The move towards structured reporting has been endorsed by the most reputable radiological societies, such as the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)6 and the European Society of Radiology (ESR)7. Embracing this evolution is not only essential for addressing current issues but also positions the field to meet the future demands of a rapidly advancing healthcare landscape.
Structured reports: a standardized approach for improving clinical collaboration
Incorporating structured reporting into radiology workflows has the potential to greatly enhance communication in the overall healthcare ecosystem. While traditional, free-text reports offer a comprehensive account of the radiologist’s interpretation of images, they may not always be the most effective means of conveying the findings to referring physicians, especially in the case of complex imaging studies like ultrasound or multi-slice computed tomography (CT), which generate hundreds or thousands of images. By employing a structured reporting approach, communication between radiologists and referring physicians becomes much more streamlined, providing a clear and concise summary of key findings.
Moreover, structured reports can be further enriched by including visual aids such as graphs, charts, schematics, and drawings, which not only help contextualize the findings but also make the information more accessible and easily understood by all members of the healthcare team. These visual elements can significantly enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing healthcare professionals from various specialties to work seamlessly together. This helps create a more comprehensive and informative resource for care providers.
As a result, faster and more informed clinical decisions can be made, reducing the likelihood of miscommunication, errors, and unnecessary follow-up examinations. This ultimately leads to better patient outcomes and more effective healthcare delivery.
Studies have shown8 that radiologists and referring physicians rated structured reports as significantly better than traditional, free-text reports on the following attributes: completeness, clarity, enabling fast extraction of relevant information, facilitating decision-making, and enabling research.
Technological advancements driving the shift
Several drawbacks of structured reporting have been identified, including the time-consuming nature of reporting complex cases using template-based structured reporting, the difficulty of accommodating incidental findings that differ from the suspected diagnosis, and the risk of distraction from the image study when filling in structured reporting templates using a mouse and keyboard9.
It is essential to choose the right IT support to ensure the successful implementation of structured reporting in clinical practice. Radiologists’ time is precious, and a complex setup with multiple disjoint applications for workflow management, image review, and reporting will add friction in making the switch from narrative to structured reporting.
Specially developed tools and services, such as Sectra IDS7 Reporting with its built-in template engine, Sectra Forms, can be the foundation of successful structured reporting implementation.
