TalkStation: Key concepts

User concepts

TalkStation includes several user types: Attending, Resident, Administrator, Transcriptionist, Referring, and Typist. Each type is given access to different TalkStation features.

Report Check concepts

TalkStation uses Report Check to validate report text for correctness. Report Check relies on a predefined rule structure maintained in the database. Each word is extracted from a report and compared with database keywords. Report Check notifies the user if it finds inconsistencies between the Body and the Impression sections of a report, or if conflicting terms are found.

Database concepts

The first step in the workflow occurs when a patient enters the hospital or other facility for an exam. If no previous record exists, the patient must be registered into the information system. Orders and exam requests are created by the patients referring physician. The information is stored in the TalkStation database.

ESI concepts

Each radiologist may be required to have a unique electronic signature identifier (ESI). This ESI can be used to identify the radiologist during report sign-off, instead of using the radiologist’s login password. Users who belong to groups outside of the Resident and Attending user groups do not need an ESI.

To be a valid identifier the ESI must meet the following criteria:

• Not be the same as either the physician’s login ID or password.

• Have a minimum number of characters (as defined by the System Administrator).

• Contain only alphanumeric characters.

Unlike other passwords in the system, an ESI does not have an expiration date, and can be used until the user changes the ESI.

When Electronic Signature ID is selected as the sign-off method, the user is prompted to provide the appropriate ID when signing off a report. If co-signatures are required, TalkStation allows the addition of multiple electronic signatures to a single report.

The report displays and prints the Resident electronic signature as well as the Attending Physician electronic signature. The signature statement is displayed on the report in the following format: Electronically signed by radiologist’s name on mm/dd/yy at hhmm.

After a report has been signed off, the only way that a radiologist can modify the contents is with an addendum to a signed report. Addenda also require an electronic signature.

The signature statement appears on reports only if the administrator has selected the Insert signature at signoff checkbox on the System Preferences Workflow tab.