Workflow (definition)

As stated by the Workflow Management Coalition, workflow is:

“the computerized facilitation or automation of a business process, in whole or in part… where documents, information, or tasks are passed between participants according to defined set of rules to achieve or contribute to an overall business goal.”

The requirement for a medical imaging workflow is that it is effective, efficient, and that it maximizes patient care.

Re-engineering a workflow does not have to be done from scratch. The DICOM standard and the IHE initiative provide frameworks for implementing workflows in a standardized manner across multiple institutions such as:

– General Purpose Worklist
– IHE Clinical Scenarios
– Radiology Integration Profile: Scheduled Workflow (SWF)