The 20-Year Saga of Structured Tumor Pathology Reporting: The Advantages and Value of Technology Tools

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

9-2018

Publication Title

Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Abstract

Context: It has taken 20 years for standardization of tumor reports to prevail. Retrospectively, a lack of effective technologic tools has contributed to the slow progress. The dominant rudimentary dictation-transcription method is inefficient. Increasing report standards (elements and formats) without comparable effective tools renders the update ineffective and costly. We assess the efficiency of 2 reporting methods to highlight the need to improve reporting by a simple technology. Design: A Web-based reporting tool with a cascade drop-down list was compared with the prevailing dictation-transcription method for efficiency, which was measured by time and workflow. Operational models to update reporting content were also examined to assess the advantage of using a correct technologic tool or tools. Results: The Web tool reduced the time it took a pathologist to generate a final tumor report compared with the use of the dictation-transcription method (Table) because filling out a Web form is much easier than operating a dictaphone. The Web method also simplified the workflow by eliminating the need for routine transcription. An operational model using a Web-reporting system as top content control greatly simplified the process of reporting and drastically reduced the cost associated with the continuous demand to update tumor checklists. Conclusions: The correct technology tool can greatly promote standardization of tumor reporting by enhancing efficiency, increasing user compliance, and cutting institutional costs. It may serve as an innovative operational model that can potentially reduce cost by millions nationwide.

Volume

142

Issue

9

First Page

e100

Comments

College of American Pathologists Annual Meeting, October 20-24, 2018, Chicago, IL

Last Page

e100

DOI

10.5858/arpa.2018-0293-AB

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