Imaging requisitions are the legal documents that health professionals use to communicate to radiologists and Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT(R)s) the relevant clinical information to guide their requested radiographic examination. Inadequate or incomplete information may have a substantial impact on patient care. Since the implementation of our electronic medical record system, EPIC (Epic Systems Corp.), we have the ability to track the number of errors on requisitions; the most common error is having the incorrect body parts selected or multiple unnecessary exams being ordered. The MRT(R)’s identify these errors and correct the inconsistencies following departmental protocols. Without such vigilance on the MRT(R)’s part, inappropriate radiographs could have been performed and could lead to additional, unnecessary radiation exposure. To help select the most appropriate protocol, educate and guide the health professionals at our hospital, an electronic software tool, “EDI” has been created. <b>EDI</b> (<b>E</b>xamine the patient, <b>D</b>etermine the correct radiograph, <b>I</b>nput the order with pertinent and relevant clinical information) is an interactive tool that includes the exam protocol with the associated views per body part. Each exam also includes EDI with the field of view that will be exposed to radiation during the exam. Our goal is that EDI will serve health professionals to better understand what order needs to be selected in the electronic system and which radiographs will be provided. Ultimately, this will reduce any unnecessary exams and reduce pediatric radiation exposure. Read More

Meeting name: SPR 2019 Annual Meeting & Postgraduate Course , 2019

Authors: Boileau Caroline, Treanor Lee, Kapoor Cassandra, Highmore Kerri, Miller Elka

Keywords: Appropriateness Criteria, Image Gently, ALARA