Background/introduction
For the justification of imaging, with ESRiGuide a success has been achieved by developing and adopting appropriateness criteria and by implementing them as a computerized decision support tool. By following the Basic Safety Standards Directive (2013/59/Euratom, BSS) as well as the recommendations from the WHO about patient safety and adherence and from and IAEA, more elements are needed to standardize imaging referrals, thus supporting computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems in the form of ESRiGuide. There is a need to develop recommendations for optimizing the referral process...
Description of activity and work performed
A standard for a structured referral has been developed consisting of 10 items as fields for referral forms in an electronic health care record: Three items are for the use of appropriateness criteria, i. e. anatomic regions, clinical scenarios, and modality. Six items refer to requirements from the BSS Directive: (1) attributes of the referral diagnosis with regard to workflow optimisation, screening, non-medical exposures, and research (table), (2) personalisation with information on previous examinations, (3) dose records, (4) patient safety including pregnancy, (5) patient adherence...
Conclusion and recommendations
The implementation of standards for the justification of imaging may offer new opportunities to improve communication, to optimise indication-driven investigations (according to EuroSafe Imaging) and indication-driven reporting, and to pave the way towards the implementation of AI.
Personal/organisational information
On behalf of theRadiation Protection Subcommittee of the European Society of Radiology (ESR):Franz Kainberger, Kimberly Applegate, Marco Brambilla, Stefan Delorme, Shane Foley, Werner Jaschke, Emanuele Neri, Katrine Riklund, Andrea Rockall, Raija Seuri, Virginia Tsapaki, Jenia Vassileva, Annalisa Trianni, Guy Frija, Adrian J. Brady
J. Nagl; Vienna/AT - nothing to disclose F. Kainberger; Vienna/AT - nothing to disclose
References
1.European Society of Radiology (ESR). The Current Status of Uptake of European BSS Directive (2013/59/Euratom) Requirements – Results of a Pilot Survey in European Radiology Departments with a Focus on Clinical Audit. Insights Imaging 2019 9; 10: 50
2.European Society of Radiology. Summary of the proceedings of the international forum 2016: “Imaging referral guidelines and clinical decision support - how can radiologists implement imaging referral guidelines in clinical routine?” Insights Imaging (2017) 8:1–9
3.European Society of Radiology (ESR). How to manage accidental andunintendedexposure in radiology:...