Template-driven computed tomography radiation dose reporting: implementation of a radiology housestaff quality improvement project.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Radiation exposure from medical imaging has received increasing attention in recent years. Ongoing calls to report radiation doses received during radiology studies as a means of recording cumulative exposure and identifying rare over-exposures have culminated in the State of California passing a mandatory reporting requirement effective July 1, 2012. Herein we describe a radiology housestaff-led quality improvement project to track radiation dose reporting a full year prior to state reporting mandates using a template-driven reporting system and our results over the first 12 months of its implementation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Effective July 2011, all radiology trainees were instructed to use a standard computed tomography (CT) report template that included a CT dose measurement derived from dose information routinely displayed on our picture archiving and communication system. Consecutive reports from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, of patients who underwent CT examinations at our institution were then retrospectively reviewed. Compliance of each study with the reporting requirement was assessed based on the presence or absence of a radiation dose statement within the finalized report.

RESULTS

A total of 36,217 eligible consecutive CT reports were identified within the review period. Of these, 91.9% reported the radiation dose for the examination, greatly exceeding the initial goal of 80% compliance with the dose reporting requirement.

CONCLUSION

Successful reporting of CT radiation doses resulted from template-driven reporting, readily accessible calculation tools to facilitate dose calculation, and minimization of reporting burden on the radiologist a full year prior to state regulatory mandates.