URBANA, ILL (WAND): Carle Health is introducing enhanced measures to make it easier for patients to take control of their health. Starting April 4th, patients will see radiology reports interpreted for them in plain language through the MyCarle account or the MyCarle app.
The new software, ScanSlated, uses artificial intelligence to translate the original language submitted by Carle clinical experts in radiology and highlight key terms in the report. ScanSlated provides easy-to-understand definitions as well as an anatomical illustration, helping patients see their results in a brand new light.
"The goal is to inform and empower the patient to better understand and participate in their healthcare," Dr. Blake Weis, a doctor in Neuroradiology, explains to WAND News. "Some are apprehensive when they read their radiology reports." Dr. Weis shares how confusing it could be for many patients to decipher their own medical results. "If nothing is wrong, a lot of the terms we use are based in Latin and it can be confusing." He explains.
“I am most proud of this. It levels the playing field for the patients,” Kelly Oppe, director of Radiology at Carle Foundation Hospital, said. “Hopefully the patient can see this and be an active participant in their medical care.”
Todd Rhodes, Carle IT System Administrator in Radiology at Carle Foundation Hospital, worked to make the software functional for Carle’s use and he pointed out the software tool also translates radiology terms into easy-to-understand Spanish. This will help bridge the gap between diverse groups of people seeking medical care.
“We are slowly continuing to grow out what it means to empower patient’s within their own care, and I believe that this is a huge step in that direction. Imaging is such a huge part of patient’s care, and the reports that our radiologists create are so in depth that it can be hard to understand if you don’t have a background that will help support you when reading them,” Rhodes said.
Geri Claypool, Lead IT System Administrator/Radiology, said the software is secure through a single virtual server. Patient reports will still only be accessible through the patient login.
Patients will access the software through the MyChart application. Carle team members will view the ScanSlated Report for their patients through the internal patient information system as well through the patient’s Chart Review by selecting a hyperlink above the radiologist’s report.
Providing not only patient access to their information, but also a deeper understanding of their information goes a step further than required of hospitals by federal law, Oppe said.
Patients can provide feedback to what they are seeing in real time. “We hope this helps prevent anxiety until a patient’s next appointment or until the patient connects with the provider,” Oppe said.
To see what this may look like, click here.
