Interpreting Radiographs with Concurrently Obtained Patient Photographs.

Srini Tridandapani,Pamela Bhatti,Eliot L Siegel,Carson A Wick,Elizabeth A Krupinski,Richard K J Brown,Nabile M Safdar

doi:10.1148/rg.2019180198

Abstract

A technology for automatically obtaining patient photographs along with portable radiographs was implemented clinically at a large academic hospital. This article highlights several cases in which image-related clinical context, provided by the patient photographs, provided quality control information regarding patient identification, laterality, or position and assisted the radiologist with the interpretation. The information in the photographs can easily minimize unnecessary calls to the patient’s nursing staff for clarifications and can lead to new methods of physically assessing patients.

Highlights

Concurrently Obtained PatientSrini Tridandapani, MD, PhD Pamela Bhatti,PhD, MSc Richard K
Motivated by a need to increase the detection rate for wrong-patient errors in radiology [1,2,3,4], we developed a technology to automatically obtain point-of-care patient photographs along with portable radiographs [5,6,7]
In the future, photographs could be used in lieu of radiographs, which require the use of ionizing radiation, for certain restricted indications

Summary

Concurrently Obtained Patient

Srini Tridandapani, MD, PhD Pamela Bhatti,PhD, MSc Richard K. Supported by National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grant (SBIR 1647687). After completing this journal-based SA-CME activity, participants will be able to:. ■■Explain how point-of-care patient photographs obtained at the time of radiography can increase detection of wrongpatient errors. ■■Discuss how patient photographs can provide clinical context and increase confidence in radiographic interpretation. A technology for automatically obtaining patient photographs along with portable radiographs was implemented clinically at a large academic hospital. This article highlights several cases in which image-related clinical context, provided by the patient photographs, provided quality control information regarding patient identification, laterality, or position and assisted the radiologist with the interpretation.

Introduction

Camera Technology in Brief

TEACHING POINTS

Photography in Medicine and Other Approaches to Photography in Radiology

Findings

Conclusion