title: What makes a good ultrasound report?
abstract: It is essential for the management of the patient that ultrasound practitioners produce reports based on their examinations that are accurate and clear. Ideally, all reports should attempt to answer the original clinical question. This seems a simple requirement and yet it is not always as easy as it sounds. In this paper, we explore the importance of the report, reasons that give rise to poor report writing and suggest educational resources that are available to improve poor report writing. Common mistakes and language ambiguity are discussed. Finally, we suggest a simple five-point framework, which practitioners may find useful when constructing ultrasound reports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK.
authors.forename: Hazel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weston
keywords: Language; audit; communication; medicolegal; research