Effect of Analytics-Driven Worklists on Musculoskeletal MRI Interpretation Times in an Academic Setting

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine how use of analytics-driven worklists for MRI based on relative individual interpretation time affects the overall group interpretation time in an academic musculoskeletal practice. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. In this prospective study, interpretation times for all MRI studies signed by three musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologists during 2016 were calculated from initial study view and report signing times. Custom worklists were made for each radiologist with body parts ordered from the fastest to the slowest based on relative interpretation time. These worklists were then used for a trial period of 7 consecutive days. The difference in mean interpretation times between the trial period and baseline and the differences in volume distribution were calculated. Changes in individual interpretation time were assessed by z-score with statistical significance set at ≤ 0.05. RESULTS. Across all readers, total interpretation time decreased by a mean of 29.5 minutes per day during the trial period. Only two types of studies were read with an individual interpretation time significantly different from baseline (wrist studies for reader 1 were 10 minutes slower [p = 0.01] and cervical spine studies for reader 3 were 9 minutes faster [p < 0.01]). Volume distributions changed across various body parts (-3% to 4% for reader 1, -13% to 14% for reader 2, and -24% to 10% for reader 3). CONCLUSION. Analytics-driven worklists for MRI may decrease overall group interpretation time without significant alteration in individual speed, though a change in volume distribution is required.