Data-driven CT protocol review and management—experience from a large academic hospital

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology Informatics
• Quality Assurance

Background:

• CT protocol review is vital for quality assurance but challenged by numerous protocols and naming inconsistencies.
• Managing and reviewing large sets of CT protocols on scanners and in records is complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and report a data-driven cataloging process to aid in CT protocol review and management.
• To streamline the identification and organization of CT protocols for improved efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Collected scanner protocols and 18 months of exam records from 10 clinical scanners.
• Developed algorithms to deconstruct protocol names into core and descriptive components.
• Grouped protocols into core sets and linked exam records, calculating usage percentages.

Main Results:

• An average of 18, 33, and 49 core protocols covered 80%, 90%, and 95% of exams, respectively.
• This represents a significant reduction compared to the 200-300 protocols typically loaded on scanners.
• Identified duplicated, outdated, and rarely used protocols efficiently.

Conclusions:

• The data-driven cataloging process effectively facilitates CT protocol review.
• This approach enhances CT quality assurance by simplifying protocol management.