When reviewing reports and images for patients you have referred for imaging, you can perform these tasks to get started. For example, you can use some or all of these steps to check the placements of tubes in ICU patients or to review patients during an ICU rond.
To review studies for ICU patients
Expand the ICU worklist that contains your patients. Right-click the study and select Open with Images.
A tab is created for the patient in the navigation bar at the bottom of the Image area, and the images are displayed. Any relevant priors are automatically opened, if set to do so.
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Search for a specific patient and open the patient's studies.
To find patients faster, search by patient ID using a * wildcard; for example, 4653* returns all patients whose ID begins with 4653.
In the Image area, view the images for the study. You may need to:
Change the study screen format to show one image at full screen size, or two studies (a current and prior) next to each other.
Scroll through a stack of CT images, which gives the illusion of movement.
Scroll to another study for the same patient, if you opened multiple studies for one patient or if relevant priors were set to open automatically.
Transform the images to better discern clinical findings. You may need to:
Change image brightness and contrast with the Window Level tool.
Reverse black and white areas with the Invert tool.
Magnify an image with the Zoom tool.
Measure the distance between two points on the image with the Markup Caliper tool.
In the Text area, view the study description, the report, and other study information.
At a single-monitor station, to switch from the Image to the Text area, click the Text button in the top toolbar of the Image area.
In the Text area's Study List, open the images for any prior studies that are required.
When complete, close the current patient's studies.
 | Tip: To move quickly through the patients without having to open and close each study, cycle a worklist containing all patients under your care. |