CDA use in Diagnostic Imaging?

In the province of British Columbia, our systems store, manage and distribute imaging reports from all health authorities -- all hospitals in the province. All imaging reports are currently in CDA Level 1 format. The prevalence of CDA Level 1 format (in BC and other parts of the world) has to do with the fact that it is compatible with how many/most radiologist like to work -- reporting with minimal number of clicks on the keyboard using voice recognition (not fingers) to generate the body of the report that subsequently can be embedded in the CDA Level 1 document.

Of course, from the downstream health delivery perspective, it would be beneficial if Level 2 or Level 3 imaging documents were generated from the get-go. It is not that easy though as rads (or their staff) would probably have to click more to populate templates and thus their throughput would be lower (money issue). As a result, certain targeted initiatives with a high bang-for-the-buck factor (e.g., cancer-related, screening programs) rather than the broad general-purpose imaging tend to be best candidates for structured content generation and exchange.

Cezary

Cezary Klimczak | CEO | Leafsprout Technologies Inc. | +1 647 723 2028 | www.leafsprout.com

Hi Ken,

Also, although this is not directly the question that you asked, I'ld like to mention that DICOM has recently published an addition (Part 20). It is entitled "Imaging Reports using HL7 Clinical Document Architecture (CDA)." It profiles CDA for DI reports, including CDA Level 1, 2, and 3.

It can be found here: dicom.nema.org/standard.html (scroll to Part 20)

Also to note is that one of the three primary authors of Part 20 included Cancer Care Ontario (CCO).

Please let me know if you have any questions about DICOM Part 20.

Best regards,
Teri

Hello,

As Avneet mentioned eHealth Ontario is also implementing CDA R2 for DI reports.
Send me an email if you need more details.


Tibi Puscas
Product Manager DI
eHealth Ontario

Hello,

As Avneet mentioned eHealth Ontario is also implementing CDA R2 for DI reports.
Send me an email if you need more details. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tibi Puscas
Product Manager DI
eHealth Ontario

Hi Ken, I can confirm that the GTA West Diagnostic Imaging Repository (DI-r) stores approximately 3,000,000 Level 1 CDAs (DI Results/Reports) per year. All CDAs are accessible by querying the DI-r XDS Registry/Repository. The GTA West DI-r also makes these CDAs available for review and viewing via Regional Enterprise IHE Compliant Viewer. For more information on GTA West, visit: www.gtawestdir.com/

I also should add that the GTA West DI-r forwards the CDA objects to the eHealth Ontario Diagnostic Imaging Common Service initiative.

www.ehealthontario.on.ca/en/standards/view/diagnostic-imaging-common-service-standard-dinbspcs

Please let me know if you require more information.

Kind regards,

Avneet

I presented the ITAC Health Position Paper in Interoperability Standards to OHISC today.

One of the questions that came up at the meeting was about the use of CDA in Diagnostic Imaging in Canada. Can anyone clarify if CDAs are used as a part of DI in Canada? If so, are they level 1, 2 or 3 CDA?

Thank you!
Ken Stevens
Co-Chair Interoperability and Standards Committee, ITAC Health