Communication of Incidental Imaging Findings on Inpatient Discharge Summaries after Implementation of Electronic Health Record Notification System

Objectives Inadequate follow-up of incidental imaging findings (IIFs) can result in poor patient outcomes, patient dissatisfaction, and provider malpractice. At our institution, radiologists flag IIFs during report dictation to trigger electronic health record (EHR) notifications to providers and patients. Nurse coordinators directly contact patients or their primary care physicians (PCPs) regarding IIFs if follow-up is not completed within the recommended time frame. Despite these interventions, many patients and their PCPs remain unaware of IIFs. In an effort to improve awareness of IIFs, we aim to investigate communication of IIFs on inpatient discharge summaries after implementation of our EHR notification system. Methods Inpatient records with IIFs from 2018 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed to determine type of IIFs, follow-up recommendations, and mention of IIFs on discharge summaries. Nurse coordinators spoke to patients and providers to determine their awareness of IIFs. Results Incidental imaging findings were reported in 51% of discharge summaries (711/1383). When nurse coordinators called patients and PCPs regarding IIFs at the time follow-up was due, the patients and PCPs were aware of 79% of IIFs (1096/1383). Conclusions With implementation of EHR notifications to providers regarding IIFs, IIFs were included in 51% of discharge summaries. Lack of inclusion of IIFs on discharge summaries could be related to transitions of care within hospitalization, provider alert fatigue, and many diagnostic testing results to distill. These findings demonstrate the need to improve communication of IIFs, possibly via automating mention of IIFs on discharge summaries, and the need for care coordinators to follow up on IIFs.