ER Tracking

Context

The Emergency Department (ED) is a major source of advanced imaging (CT, MRI). A significant percentage of these scans reveal incidental findings unrelated to the primary reason for the visit [49]. These findings often require follow-up but are frequently lost due to fragmented communication and lack of clear ownership between the ED, radiology, and primary/specialty care [11, 50].

Clinical Value:

Implementing a robust tracking system like Thynk Health specifically for ED incidental findings ensures critical diagnoses (e.g., early cancers, aneurysms) are not missed. It bridges communication gaps, automates follow-up recommendations based on established guidelines (Fleischner, ACR, etc.), and assigns clear responsibility, significantly improving patient safety and reducing diagnostic delays [11, 50]. Failure to track ED findings poses substantial clinical and medico-legal risks [4].

Return on Investment (ROI):

Capturing and managing follow-up for incidental findings from the high volume of ED imaging represents a major opportunity. By preventing patient leakage and ensuring guideline-adherent care for findings like pulmonary nodules ($12.8M est. 5yr gain), aneurysms ($4.6M), liver lesions ($0.5M), renal lesions ($20.9M), etc., ER tracking solutions drive substantial downstream revenue across multiple service lines while mitigating risk [Thynk Health ROI Data 2025, 11]. The overall ROI potential is a composite of the individual findings tracked.

Feature List:

Real-time Report Processing: NLP engine processes ED radiology reports quickly to identify actionable incidental findings.
Critical Finding Alerts: Flags potentially urgent findings (e.g., large aneurysm, suspicious mass requiring urgent outpatient follow-up) for immediate navigator/provider review.
Automated Communication Workflows: Sends automated notifications/tasks to designated navigators or primary care providers regarding necessary follow-up.
Cross-Continuum Tracking: Ensures findings identified in the ED are tracked through outpatient follow-up, regardless of the patient's eventual discharge status or primary provider.
Reporting on ED Follow-up Closure Rates: Tracks the percentage of actionable ED incidental findings that successfully receive recommended follow-up.

(Note: ER Tracking utilizes the core modules for specific findings identified in the Emergency Department setting. The value proposition lies in ensuring critical incidental findings from ER visits are not lost to follow-up. The ROI is derived from capturing the downstream care related to these findings, as detailed in the other modules offered.)

Important Note on ROI: The Return on Investment (ROI) figures presented are derived from Thynk Health's proprietary performance data analysis. These calculations are based on models simulating a medium-sized hospital system processing approximately 600,000 CT scans annually through emergency departments and utilizing multispecialty guidelines for follow-up care pathways and associated downstream revenue capture. Actual ROI may vary based on specific institutional factors, patient populations, and payer mix.

References:
[11] Thynk Health White Paper: Incidental Findings Management. (Referenced in memory)
[49] Thompson, R. J., et al. (2011). Incidental findings on CT scans in the emergency department. Emergency Medicine International.
[50] Dalal, A. K., et al. (2014). Closing the loop: ensuring effective communication of critical imaging results. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.