Patients, caregivers, and clinician researchers from across Mass General Brigham (MGB) have expanded access to radiology services at McLean Hospital thanks to the rollout of MGB’s Imaging Service Portal at the imaging center on McLean’s Belmont campus.
The project has been a win all around, especially for patients. Those needing many types of radiologic scans now have a convenient location outside of Boston where images are reviewed by radiologists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Mass General Hospital.
Expanding Radiology Services
Clinical MRI scan volume at the recently renamed MGB Imaging – Belmont has increased by 91% from the prior year.
“McLean received its first magnet (MRI scanner) in 1989, and all our technologists are skilled in all forms of scanning. But as a psychiatric hospital, for many years, our radiologic work focused on the brain,” said Scott E. Lukas, PhD, director of the imaging center and McLean’s Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory.
“We are still doing brain scans for both clinical and research purposes, but also musculoskeletal imaging, and our radiologists are getting credentialed for abdominal scans. For patients, we’re a great option: a viable, clinical MR diagnostic facility right in the heart of Belmont, that is easy to access and offers convenient free parking.”
Increased Clinical Access Boosts Efficiency
MGB Imaging – Belmont is now an option for any patient across the MGB system in need of musculoskeletal or neurologic scans. Appointments are made directly through the system-wide Book It scheduling system.
The scans performed at the Belmont location are immediately sent to one of approximately 30 subspecialized radiologists affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital (for adults age 19+) and Mass General Hospital (for pediatric scans, ages 15 to 18).
These highly trained specialists read the scans and write their reports. Reports and images are uploaded to the patient’s Epic medical chart for the care team and to Patient Gateway, the patient portal for the Epic medical records system.
One of the biggest changes for the MGB Imaging – Belmont location is the ratio of clinical scans to those for research.
“We used to be 85-90% research,” said Lukas. “Now it’s moved to easily 65% research and 35% clinical, and the clinical work continues to increase.”
Thangaraj said the higher volume of clinical scans at MGB Imaging - Belmont is something the MRI technologists on staff enjoy.
“The techs here are very happy to see this volume come in,” she said. “Many have worked in a clinical environment previously. We have a strong focus on research, which has been interesting and requires extra training. Yet, some of the staff found they missed performing clinical scans. With the increase in clinical volume, it’s nice to be able to keep up their imaging skills and be involved in patient care.”
Streamlining Tools and Processes
The referral pathway for system-wide MR at McLean was developed over time by MGB’s Enterprise Radiology Department. The imaging center in Belmont gained access to the MGB Picture Archival and Computer System (PACS), which securely stores and digitally transmits private patient medical imaging information, and tools in Epic (MGB’s patient medical records system) such as Book It, which allows people to schedule scans across the system.
MGB employees can use the Imaging Service Portal as the go-to source for the system’s imaging sites and services, including the latest location in Belmont. It is also home to Ask a Radiologist, a 24/7 consultation service. The Imaging Service Portal can be found via Vitals, the MBG intranet site.
The employee portal also has a new resource called Get Started, a self-service option designed especially to orient employees to diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology services throughout Mass General Brigham.
Get Started features videos, guides, and tip sheets recommended by fellow employees and tailored to meet the needs of ordering providers, schedulers, and managers. Curated to fit specific workflows, the content introduces processes for ordering, scheduling, viewing, and sharing images across the system.
MGB Imaging – Belmont also teamed up with Brigham’s Patient Financial Clearance team to facilitate the finance side of these integrated services.
“They’re a wonderful team, and very responsive,” said Kathleen Thangaraj, chief MRI technologist at MGB Imaging – Belmont. “They’ve been great.”
Making Strong Connections
In addition to being a highly attractive MRI destination for MGB patients and researchers, Lukas encourages employees and staff from across the system to consider the MGB Imaging – Belmont location for their own MR needs.
“Every employee at MGB can have their clinical scans done here,” he said.
The increase in clinical scans at MGB Imaging – Belmont has not interfered with the number of research MR studies at the site. Instead, there is increased overall utilization of the machines, boosting efficiency while increasing access.
“The MRI machines at McLean are now being used at nearly their full potential,” said Jae Lee, vice president of MGB Enterprise Radiology, who, along with James Brink, MD, chief of MGB Enterprise Radiology, is leading the radiology expansion project at McLean.
“While the number of appointments for clinical scans is expanding and demand is very high, we want to make sure to find the best balance of convenience for clinical patients and convenience for researchers and research subjects who are volunteering for these procedures.”
The entire collaborative effort has been extremely positive, Thangaraj added.
“Our interactions across MGB have been informative and productive. We feel a stronger connection with other affiliates,” Thangaraj said.
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