Deep-Learning Natural Language Processing Tool Identifies Radiology Findings to Reduce Risk of Delayed Care
Leading-edge artificial intelligence sorts through radiology reports to pull critical results that could be missed and alerts physicians to expedite next steps.
Each year, thousands of radiology reports are generated at hospitals. While primary results are shared with clinicians and patients, the full report can contain other critical yet unexpected findings. But without an efficient, standardized method of identifying and communicating these findings — often buried in clinician notes — patients are at increased risk of delayed diagnosis and treatment. At the beginning of 2020, Northwestern Medicine scientists set out to develop a solution to this nationwide healthcare issue, starting with lung and adrenal scans.