Structured Reports

In this presentation on "Structured Reports", Dr. Christopher Walker, a cardiothoracic radiologist at the University of Kansas Medical Center, discusses the benefits of structured reporting in radiology. He compares structured reporting to other styles, emphasizing the standardized format that helps both clinicians and patients comprehend reports more easily. Dr. Walker presents research findings indicating that structured reporting is preferred by both patients and clinicians over other styles. He also explores the advantages of disease-specific reporting templates, highlighting their role in ensuring completeness and quality improvement. Dr. Walker shares practical examples, such as using a structured template for pre-procedural planning CT in cardiac imaging and implementing disease-specific templates for pulmonary embolism reporting. Additionally, he demonstrates how structured reporting can positively influence radiologist behavior, as seen in the improvement of coronary calcium reporting compliance. Overall, the talk advocates for structured reports as a valuable tool in radiology practice.