CDS Boosts MRI Screenings at Kettering Health

Summary

Kettering Health has significantly improved its MRI screening rates and operational efficiency by integrating cancer risk assessments into its health information system. This integration, powered by clinical decision support technology, streamlines workflows, improves data accessibility, and facilitates consistent, evidence-based preventive care. The result is a substantial increase in breast MRI screenings, especially for high-risk patients.

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** Main Story**

Kettering Health Breast Centers recently faced a challenge many healthcare providers can relate to: how to make cancer risk assessment less of a headache. Their old method, relying on separate tablets for patient questionnaires, wasn’t exactly smooth. Think unstable Wi-Fi, patients struggling to understand the questions, and consent needed before each and every assessment, well you can imagine the bottlenecks. Plus, it didn’t talk to their other systems, so generating reports and personalizing breast imaging recommendations was a real struggle.

A Workflow Overhaul

The answer? Ditching the tablets and baking the cancer risk assessment right into their health information system (HIS). It just makes so much sense, doesn’t it? Deanne Rose, director of Kettering Health Breast Centers, nailed it when she said it means risk results automatically pop up in reports, making data way more accessible and keeping care consistent. And it’s not just about the data; clearer communication between patients and doctors is a massive win for the whole experience.

Imagine the difference. No more clunky manual workflows, patient data neatly collected, and those risk results flowing into reports automatically. It’s improved consistency and communication, that’s for sure. Initially, they used the Hughes tool (later the Cancer Risk Assessment, or CRA, tool) on iPads. But eventually, Kettering’s Radiant Epic analysts teamed up with CRA to embed the questions right into the technologist’s workflow within Epic. That’s smart thinking! Now, these assessments get an annual review. They aren’t linked to external platforms, but having everything in Epic has seriously boosted their ability to assess and act on risk data. What’s more, clinicians can now complete these risk assessments whenever they interact with a patient.

MRI Screening Rates See a Boost

So, has it made a difference? Absolutely! “Year over year, we’ve seen a consistent increase in breast MRI screening rates, particularly among patients identified as high-risk,” Rose told us. The numbers back it up. Between 2021 and 2024, screening breast MRIs for high-risk patients jumped – 47%, 22%, 35%, and 19% respectively, compared to the previous years. That’s a big deal. This means healthcare professionals can offer timely follow-up care, like genetic counseling or extra imaging, potentially catching problems early.

For instance, I remember hearing about a similar system implemented at a smaller clinic. They saw a dramatic increase in patient compliance with recommended screenings, simply because the process was less of a hassle.

Standardized Care, Fair for Everyone

This integration has also ensured everyone gets the same high standard of care across all Kettering Health locations. Before, with different tools and methods, things got confusing. Now, everyone gets preventive care that follows guidelines. As Rose pointed out, being able to identify high-risk patients earlier and more accurately means staff can provide the right level of care, hopefully before cancer even develops. Using one risk assessment model simplifies things for providers, supporting a single best practice across the board.

Ultimately, Kettering Health’s use of clinical decision support tech shows how integrated systems can really boost efficiency and patient outcomes. By smoothing out workflows and centralizing key data, Kettering Health is making sure more patients get timely and appropriate preventive care, which, at the end of the day, leads to better health. I think this forward-thinking approach really sets them apart as a leader in using technology to improve cancer risk assessment and preventive care.