Informatics in radiology: use of a macro scripting editor to facilitate transfer of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry reports into an existing departmental voice recognition dictation system.

The process of verbally reporting or manually retyping numeric data generated at dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) involves numerous pitfalls. With use of a macro scripting editor, a customized macro was created to automate the transfer of data generated by a DXA scanner into a structured voice recognition dictation system without requiring radiologists to type in a medical record number or accession number to identify the study. A preliminary report is generated with use of software for a DXA unit and a customized template that includes numeric and qualitative assessments of osteoporosis as well as data from prior studies if available. A customized macro is then invoked by the macro scripting editor, which selectively transfers the report from the draft document into the voice recognition dictation system, thereby producing a final structured diagnostic report. All of the radiologists surveyed to evaluate this automated method reported ease of software use and greater efficiency in report production. In addition, a random audit of the 800 DXA scans that have been reported with this technique demonstrated no reports generated under an incorrect accession number and no incorrect transfer of data. Automated DXA reporting is now the preferred method of dictation at the authors' institution and represents an inexpensive, accurate, and customizable means of DXA reporting.