Imagine there is no paperwork… it's easy if you try

Br J Radiol. 2024 Mar 28;97(1156):744-746. doi: 10.1093/bjr/tqae035.

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to radiology is so vast that it provides applications ranging from becoming a complete replacement for radiologists (a potential threat) to an efficient paperwork-saving time assistant (an evident strength). Nowadays, there are AI applications developed to facilitate the diagnostic process of radiologists without directly influencing (or replacing) the proper diagnostic decision step. These tools may help to reduce administrative workload, in different scenarios ranging from assisting in scheduling, study prioritization, or report communication, to helping with patient follow-up, including recommending additional exams. These are just a few of the highly time-consuming tasks that radiologists have to deal with every day in their routine workflow. These tasks hinder the time that radiologists should spend evaluating images and caring for patients, which will have a direct and negative impact on the quality of reports and patient attention, increasing the delay and waiting list of studies pending to be performed and reported. These types of AI applications should help to partially face this worldwide shortage of radiologists.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; radiology; workflow; workload.

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Humans
  • Radiologists
  • Radiology* / methods
  • Workflow
  • Workload