Implications of ChatGPT on Radiology Workflow

Abstract

The demand for medical imaging in Canada has risen due to factors, including an aging population, increased patient volumes, advancements in procedures and treatments, and shifts in standard of care. Notably, there has been a substantial increase in CT and MRI examinations. Radiologists in Canada often have large patient volumes, work extended overtime, and manage prolonged wait-lists, all of which contribute to burnout. This burnout has an impact on productivity and staff turnover and may jeopardize patient safety. Burnout may also lead to radiologists reducing their work hours, seeking new employers, or leaving clinical practice. ChatGPT could play a role in supporting radiologists in a variety of ways, including generating radiology reports, providing structured report templates, assisting with clinical history sections of radiology reports, and facilitating patient communication. ChatGPT may also aid clinical decision support by assisting in final diagnoses and cancer screening decisions, and optimizing clinical decision support. ChatGPT’s limitations in radiology workflow include dependence on training data, potential inaccuracies in responses, ethical concerns about patient data privacy, and difficulties in handling complex radiology tasks. While ChatGPT holds promise in enhancing radiology workflow and patient care, careful consideration is needed for its limitations and potential risks. Responsible implementation and ongoing research and development are vital to leveraging its benefits while upholding patient safety and ethical standards.