Operating data and unsolved problems of the DICOM modality worklist: an indispensable tool in an electronic archiving...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Informatics
• Risk Management

Background:

• Electronic archiving in radiology relies on accurate patient and image data.
• Mislabeled data can lead to significant patient safety risks and malpractice.
• DICOM modality worklist software aims to streamline data transfer and reduce errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of DICOM modality worklist software in reducing mislabeled image data.
• To assess the impact of the software on patient data accuracy and risk management in electronic archiving.
• To identify remaining challenges and areas for improvement in data entry and confirmation.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of patient profiles and image data was conducted before and after DICOM modality worklist software installation.
• All radiology modalities were integrated with RIS terminals running the DICOM worklist software.
• Patient data was transferred online, minimizing the need for manual entry by technologists.

Main Results:

• The rate of data entry errors decreased from 6.4% to 0.1% after software implementation (p < 0.0001).
• Incorrect patient IDs were significantly reduced, with no mix-ups reported post-installation (p = 0.0385).
• Despite improvements, manual typing errors persisted due to factors like emergency cases and system issues.

Conclusions:

• DICOM modality worklist software is crucial for electronic archiving, effectively reducing incorrect patient profiles and mix-ups.
• Remaining manual entry errors highlight the need for continued vigilance and improved data confirmation processes.
• Further strategies are necessary to completely eliminate medical accidents related to data entry and patient mix-ups.