Improving MRI Scanner Utilization Using Modality Log Files

Gunn, Martin L.; Maki, Jeffrey H.; Hall, Christopher S.; Bhargava, Puneet; Andre, Jalal B.; Carnell, Jonathan; Amthor, Thomas; Beauchamp, Norman J.

doi:10.1016/j.jacr.2016.11.021

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Log files have previously been used elsewhere to assign protocols to body regions [6] and to identify prolonged examinations and to monitor optimization approaches in which, for example, protocols were shortened [7,8]. No further analyses of these data were carried out, which may be due to their non-automated generation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Automatic, log file-based process analysis of a clinical 1.5T MR scanner: a proof-of-concept study

Frydrychowicz

Boppel

Sieber

et al. 2021

Rofo

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Purpose In light of the steadily increasing need for economical efficacy and capacity utilization it was the aim of this proof-of-concept work to implement an automated logfile-based analysis tool for MRI scanner utilization and to establish a process analysis. As a primary step, analyses of scanner and protocol utilization, parametrization of protocol processes, their durations, age dependency, and scan efficacy were to be tested. Materials and Methods Logfiles were continuously extracted from a 1.5 T MR scanner (Philips Achieva) and automatically explored for relevant scan parameters. Parameters were extracted into a database and logically combined to protocol parameters. Visualization was achieved using PowerBI (Microsoft, USA). Data aggregation comprised a day-based and protocol-based strategy. In addition, age- and regional-based testing was performed. The frequency of protocol usage was evaluated and those protocols with frequent usage compared regarding efficacy to those rarely used. Results After successful technical implementation, 3659 MR exams were available for further analysis. Out of a plethora of parameters, those relevant to the understanding of the scan process were identified. The initial results mirror the daily scanner usage and allow identifying, e. g., shortened scanner usage on Fridays or longer examination times in children. A scan efficacy of 69.6 ± 17.6 % excluding preparation process was identified as a parameter with high potential to be optimized in daily routine. Conclusion The logfile-based analysis of MR scanner processes was successfully introduced and holds the promise to be extended into a comprehensive analytic tool for the analysis and optimization of scanner processes. In combination with other variables from the departmental or institutional infrastructure or patient-specific information such tool may be developed into a intelligent steering tool. Key Points: Citation Format

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Automatic, log file-based process analysis of a clinical 1.5T MR scanner: a proof-of-concept study

Frydrychowicz

Boppel

Sieber

et al. 2021

Rofo

Self Cite

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“…There are also medicolegal implications to be considered. Also, there is increased pressure to optimize the utilization rates of MRI machines, including on nights and weekends [15]. Although these MRI studies are routine, critical findings may be present and undiscovered for 2 days.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Important and Often Ignored Turnaround Time in Radiology – Clinician Turnaround Time: Implications for Musculoskeletal Radiology

Mayer

Sebro

2019

Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology

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Background: There has been an increase in routine musculoskeletal (MSK) MRI studies performed on weekends. Study Aims: First, to assess whether radiologist interpretation of routine MSK MRI studies on weekends decreases the time to when the clinician reads the radiologist’s report compared to studies performed on the weekend but interpreted the following Monday. Second, to evaluate whether reports are more likely to be read by clinicians if the MRIs are interpreted by radiologists on weekends compared to the following Monday. Methods: A random sample of 1765 patients who underwent routine MSK MRIs from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016 was evaluated. The radiologist turnaround times (rTATs), clinician turnaround times (cTATs) and the provider turnaround time (pTAT) were calculated. The pTAT was the sum of the rTAT and the cTAT. Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare proportions. Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests were used to compare turnaround time metrics. Results: There was no difference in the pTAT for studies performed and interpreted on the weekends compared to those performed on the weekend but interpreted the following Monday (P = 0.750). However, clinicians were significantly less likely to read the reports interpreted on the weekend compared to studies interpreted on weekdays (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Routine MSK MRI studies performed on weekends can be interpreted by radiologists on the following weekday (Monday) without affecting the time at which the clinician reads the reports and these reports are more likely to be read by clinicians if the radiologist interprets the study on a weekday.

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“…Consequently, the processed data will still need to be sent to a centralized location to compare all the scanners of the same modality. Using log files from the scanners have been proposed to estimate and improve their utilization [5]. However, accessing the scanner logs is not scalable for an extensive healthcare network due to the large volume of the scanners and the effort required to configure them, especially given the diverse access interfaces, vendor incompatibility [6], and various log formats dependent on modalities and vendors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%