Toward Optimal MRI Utilization: How Waste and Slack Turn Into Potential

Motivation: There are no standard metrics to measure clinical MRI utilization. This gap contributes to a lack of best practices for MRI utilization optimization. Goal(s): (1)Identify and standardize metrics relevant to MRI workflow; (2)demonstrate the use of these metrics to quantify MRI utilization; (3)identify opportunities for improvement in efficiency in a clinical MRI practice. Approach: Timepoint and summary metrics were defined to characterize MRI workflow. Data from two MRI facilities were analyzed using these metrics to characterize MRI utilization. Results: The defined standard set of metrics quantified MRI utilization and identified workflow areas that could be further optimized to improve MRI utilization. Impact: It is currently difficult to communicate key timepoint metrics that characterize the utilization of clinical MRI exams. The development of standardized language to characterize MR exam timepoint metrics can facilitate best practices for workflow improvement. Such tools are essential to improve the value of MR.