title: Scanner-Based Protocol-Driven Ultrasound: An Effective Method to Improve Efficiency in an Ultrasound Department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For ultrasound, a wide variation is often observed among the number and sequence of images acquired for a particular examination type. Scanner-based protocols are preset pathways in the ultrasound machine that guide a sonographer through the required study images. These protocols can streamline image acquisition by improving consistency and efficiency of ultrasound examinations. This study evaluated whether implementation of scanner-based protocol-driven ultrasound improves efficiency by decreasing the scanning duration and number of images acquired.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation of 437 carotid Doppler examinations, 395 complete abdominal ultrasound examinations with Doppler imaging, and 413 bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler examinations for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) performed by five sonographers before and after implementation of scanner-based protocol-driven ultrasound was performed. The scanning duration and number of images acquired for each study were recorded. Statistical analysis compared the scanning duration and number of images acquired before and after implementation of protocol-driven ultrasound. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in scanning duration occurred for both carotid Doppler ultrasound examinations (decrease by 12.4% [2.7 minutes], p < 0.0001) and complete abdominal ultrasound examinations with Doppler imaging (decrease by 7.5% [2.0 minutes], p = 0.0054) after implementation of protocol-driven ultrasound. The decrease in scanning duration was not significant for lower extremity DVT Doppler examinations (p = 0.4192). In addition, there was a significant decrease in the overall number of images obtained for all three types of studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scanner-based protocol-driven ultrasound is an effective method that streamlines image acquisition and significantly improves efficiency in an ultrasound department while ensuring consistency and adherence to accreditation guidelines.
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, JTN 357, Birmingham, AL 35249.
authors: Rupan
authors: R
authors: Sanyal
authors: 2 Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Kraft
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, JTN 357, Birmingham, AL 35249.|3 Present address: Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Lauren F
authors: LF
authors: Alexander
authors: 4 University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
authors: Aimen
authors: A
authors: Ismail
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, JTN 357, Birmingham, AL 35249.
authors: Mark E
authors: ME
authors: Lockhart
authors: 1 Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, JTN 357, Birmingham, AL 35249.
authors: Michelle L
authors: ML
authors: Robbin
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: efficiency; scanner-based protocols; ultrasound workflow