Imaging study, from booking to report handover
How an X-ray, CT, MRI or ultrasound order moves from Registered to Scan done, Reported, Verified and Delivered, with safety screening.
Radiographer / imaging technologistRadiologistFront office / reception
Imaging orders use the same Diagnostics screen as lab orders, with a shorter pipeline. There is no sample to receive or process, so the collection step becomes the scan itself:
Registered → Scan done → Reported → Verified → Delivered
Who does each step
| Step (button) | Capability | Roles that can do it |
|---|---|---|
| Register (+ New order, department Imaging) | diagnostics.register | Front office, radiographer, phlebotomist, lab technician, nurse, doctor, nursing superintendent, lab manager |
| Mark as scan done | diagnostics.collect | Radiographer (also phlebotomist, lab technician, nurse, nursing superintendent, lab manager) |
| Mark as reported | diagnostics.process | Radiologist (also lab technician, pathologist, lab manager) |
| Mark as verified | diagnostics.verify.imaging | Radiologist only |
| Mark as delivered | diagnostics.deliver | Radiographer, front office, lab technician, lab manager |
| Cancel, Edit | diagnostics.register | As for registration |
| Flag critical value | diagnostics.process | Radiologist (and other roles that can report) |
The administrator, medical director and quality manager can do every step. The lab manager cannot verify imaging. Radiologists cannot mark Scan done.
Step by step
1. Register
- Diagnostics → + New order.
- Fill in the patient details and choose Imaging.
- Type the study in Tests / studies requested, for example
CT abdomen with contrast. - Set Priority (STAT 1 h, Urgent 4 h, Routine 24 h) and Source (Walk-in, Home collection, OPD or IPD).
- In Clinical notes / preparation, add LMP, contrast allergy and fasting status.
- Keep Attach the protocol checklist ticked and tap Register order.
The Imaging Safety Screening checklist is attached, due in 30 minutes. If your company has no published checklist with that exact name, nothing is attached. Add it with Add checklist instead.
2. Safety screening (radiographer)
- Under Checklists, tap Start on Imaging Safety Screening.
- Confirm two identifiers, the correct study and body part, the Pregnancy status (females 10–55), allergies and previous contrast reactions, metal removed, preparation, and lead shielding.
- Sign under Technologist and tap Submit inspection.
Add more checklists as the study needs them (Add checklist → choose → Assign to → Add to order):
| Study | Extra checklist |
|---|---|
| MRI | MRI Safety Screening (Zone IV: pacemaker, implants, foreign bodies, signed form) |
| Contrast CT / MRI | Contrast Administration Check (consent, eGFR, allergy history, IV line, crash cart, 30-minute observation) |
| Ultrasound | Ultrasound Probe Disinfection (between patients) |
Every Fail answer asks for a description and photo and is raised as a deviation for the quality team. See Failed item to corrective action.
3. Scan done (radiographer)
After the study, tap Mark as scan done. The radiographer's name is recorded under the pipeline as Scanned by.
4. Reported and verified (radiologist)
- The radiologist reads the images in PACS, then taps Mark as reported.
- When signing off, they tap Mark as verified. The TAT clock stops here, and the message shows (on time) or (target missed).
A critical finding is logged with Flag critical value from Scan done onwards. See Critical value workflow.
5. Delivered
Diagnostics → Ready lists verified studies. The radiographer or front desk hands over the report and films and taps Mark as delivered.
Cancel only, never reject
Imaging orders have no sample, so they cannot be rejected. The button reads Cancel and the form reads Cancel order.
- Tap Cancel.
- Give a Reason, for example Patient did not turn up, Duplicate order, or Contrast contraindicated.
- Tap Close order and confirm.
Cancelling needs the register capability. A radiologist doesn’t see the Cancel button; ask the radiographer or the front desk. Cancelled orders leave the TAT figures, and their open checklists close with the reason.
TAT and alerts
The TAT runs from registration to Verified, with the same targets and badges as lab orders. Breach alerts go once per order to radiologists, administrators, the quality manager and the medical director. See Alerts and schedules.
Try it
In the demo diagnostic centre, Fatima Khan (USG abdomen & pelvis, Home collection, Urgent) is at Scan done. Sign in as radiologist@diagnostics.test (password password) to report and verify it. Lata Menon (X-ray chest PA) shows a delivered study.