Development and Assessment of an Information Technology Intervention to Improve the Clarity of Radiologist Follow-up Recommendations

Abstract

Radiologist recommendations for additional imaging are often subjective and variable.^1-4 Between one-fourth and two-thirds of these recommendations are not followed.^5-7 We could improve care quality and likely reduce diagnostic errors if we could ensure timely performance of clinically necessary recommendations for additional imaging and reduce clinically unnecessary recommendations for additional imaging. Two initial challenges emerge. First, reducing subjectivity and variability of recommendations for additional imaging requires modification of radiologist behavior. For example, we know that incomplete recommendations for additional imaging, such as those that do not include a recommended time frame, have a lower likelihood of being followed.⁸ Second, identifying and tracking recommendations for additional imaging is a challenge when radiologist language is incomplete or ambiguous.⁹