WO2014191477A1

WO2014191477A1 - A method for status notification on medical reports to a patient

Info

Publication number: WO2014191477A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/061102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gu SONGGANG; Gu YONGJING; Yang JIANQING
Original assignee: Agfa Healthcare
Priority date: 2013-05-31
Filing date: 2014-05-28
Publication date: 2014-12-04
Also published as: CN104217383A

Abstract

In a medical imaging system wherein medical images and reports are archived, a computer-implemented method comprising the steps of: - detecting that a radiologist (106a) starts reading a study on a patient (101a); - automatically generating and sending to the patient (101a) a first notification message (115b, 115c; 401) indicating that the radiologist (106a) started reading the study, the first notification message (115b, 115c; 401) comprising a link (411, 412) enabling the patient (101 a) to query status information (402) on the study; - detecting that the radiologist (106a) finalized his report on the study; and - automatically generating and sending to the patient (101a) a second notification message (118b, 118c; 403) indicating that the report is finalized, the second notification message (118b, 118c; 403) comprising a link (431, 432; 442) to the report (405).

Description

_ _

A METHOD FOR STATUS NOTIFICATION ON MEDICAL REPORTS TO A

PATIENT

Field of the Invention

[01] The present invention generally relates to medical imaging systems wherein medical images and medical reports are archived. The invention in particular addresses the problem of notifying a patient on the status of the medical report for his/her medical study or examination.

Background of the Invention

[02] United States Patent US 5,319,543 entitled "Workflow Server for Medical Records Imaging and Tracking System" describes a medical imaging system, i.e. a computer system wherein medical images and medical reports are archived and managed. The system known from US 5,319,543 further integrates workflow management. Tasks are routed to a work queue and they are assigned to employees. In addition, encounters or patient visits are stored and managed through the system known from US 5,319,543.

[03] Although US 5,319,543 integrates the management of tasks/workflows and encounters/visits with archiving medical images and reports, the patient having gone through a medical examination stays ignorant on the status of his medical report until he/she is contacted by the physician.

[04] United States Patent Application US 2008/0306759 entitled "Patient Workflow Process Messaging Notification Apparatus, System, and Method" also describes a workflow management system for healthcare. US 2008/0306759 recognizes the need to automatically inform family members on the status of a patient that is undergoing medical treatment in order to relief the healthcare facility staff, i.e. doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses of the burden to provide such information to family members on request. The system described in US 2008/0306759 enables family members to configure message-based notification on the patient's status such that - - each family member becomes notified automatically, in accordance with his/her own preferences, on the patient's status while the patient is undergoing medical care.

[05] Also in the system of US 2008/0306759, the patient remains ignorant on the status of his/her report in the period after medical examination. The patient hence may have to wait several days until the physician that completes the report contacts the patient.

[06] It is an objective of the present invention to disclose an improved system and method for archiving and managing medical images and medical reports that enables the patient that has gone through a medical study or examination to stay aware of the latest progress in his/her medical report, in a convenient manner, preferably at any place and any time. It is an additional objective of the present invention to enable the patient to query and access the system in order to consult the status and/or the medical report.

Summary of the Invention [07] According to the present invention, the above identified shortcomings of the prior art are resolved by the computer-implemented method defined by claim 1 , the method being implemented in a medical imaging system wherein medical images and reports are archived and comprising the steps of:

- detecting that a radiologist who is a user of the medical imaging system starts reading a study on a patient;

- automatically generating and sending to the patient a first notification message indicating that the radiologist started reading the study, the first notification message comprising a link enabling the patient to query status information on the study;

- detecting that the radiologist finalized his report on the study; and

- automatically generating and sending to the patient a second notification message indicating that the report is finalized, the second notification message comprising a link to the report. - -

[08] The invention thus resides in automatically detecting when a radiologist starts reading a study and automatically detecting when the radiologist finalizes his report on the study. At these two points in time, the system shall generate notification messages that are pushed towards the patient in order to inform the patient instantly on these status changes. The notification messages that are pushed towards the patient further contain links that enable the patient to pull additional information out of the system. As part of the notification message that indicates that the radiologist has started to read the study, the patient shall receive a link enabling the patient to request status information throughout the entire period the radiologist is working on the study. As part of the notification message that indicates that the radiologist has finalized his report on the study, the patient shall receive a link to that report. The patient consequently can consult the images and the radiologists' report as soon as the report is final. [09] According to an optional aspect of the computer-implemented method according to the present invention, defined by claim 2, the first notification message and the second notification message are e-mail messages.

[10] Indeed, the system's report status monitor may automatically send e-mail messages on detection that the radiologist has started to read the study and on detection that the radiologist has finalized his report. Such e-mail message shall reach the patient instantly, via the e-mail application on his desktop, laptop or smart mobile device. In the e-mail, the links to respectively the status and the final report can be embedded easily, e.g. as clickable hyperlinks.

[11] Alternatively or supplementary, as defined by claim 3, the first notification message and the second notification message are Short Message Service or SMS messages. [12] Thus, as an alternative to e-mail notification or supplementary to e-mail notification, the patient may receive a first SMS message indicating that the radiologist has started to read the study and a second SMS message indicating that the radiologist has finalized his medical report. These SMS messages will reach the patient instantly via his mobile phone or smartphone and again may embed - - hyperlinks to additional information in the system, i.e. either more specific status information or the final report.

[13] According to a further optional aspect of the computer-implemented method according to the present invention, defined by claim 4, the first notification message comprises user credentials enabling the patient to access the medical imaging system and consult the status information.

[14] Indeed, accessing the system and querying additional status information in the period the radiologist is reading/analysing the study preferably is subject to successful authentication by the patient. The user credentials, e.g. username and password, needed by the user for authentication may be embedded in the notification message that informs the patient on the fact the radiologist has started to read the study. Alternatively, these user credentials are delivered to the patient via a separate channel and/or message.

[15] Similarly, as defined by claim 5, the second notification message may comprise user credentials enabling the patient to access the medical imaging system and consult the report.

[16] Indeed, also consultation of the final report may be subject to successful authentication by the patient. The user credentials, e.g. the username and password, needed by the patient to access the final report preferably are embedded in the notification message that informs the patient on the fact the radiologist has finalized his report. Alternatively, these user credentials are delivered to the patient via a separate channel and/or message.

[17] Further optionally, as defined by claim 6, the link in the first notification message and the link in the second notification message of the computer-implemented method according to the present invention, are World Wide Web (WWW) or Wireless Application Platform (WAP) links. - -

[18] The query based consultation of the status and/or the final report consequently may be based on a WWW website query or a WAP page query sent from the desktop, laptop, tablet, PDA or other smart device of the patient. [19] Further optionally, as defined by claim 7, the computer-implemented method according to the present invention comprises:

- automatically generating and sending one or more additional notification message to the patient upon one or more predetermined status change of the study. [20] Thus, in addition to the point in time where the radiologist starts reading the study and the point in time where the radiologist finalizes his report, the system may enable the patient to configure automated notification on other status changes, like for instance the point in time the radiologist starts dictating, starts transcribing, starts reviewing, starts approving, etc.

[21] As is further indicated by claim 8, the status information that can be consulted through the link embedded in the first notification messages of the computer- implemented method according to the present invention, may comprise one or more of the following:

- information indicative for the current status of the study;

- information indicative for the time whereon the radiologist started reading the study;

- information indicative for the time whereon the radiologist started reading an annex to the study;

- information indicative for the time whereon the radiologist started dictating the report;

- information indicative for the time whereon the radiologist started transcribing the report;

- information indicative for the time whereon the radiologist started reviewing the report; and

- information indicative for the time whereon the radiologist approved the report. - -

[22] Hence, the patient may be given a complete view o the progress made with details informing him on the timing of the various tasks for the radiologist like reading the study, reading annexes, dictating, transcribing, reviewing, approving, etc. [23] Still optionally, as defined by claim 9, the computer-implemented method according to the present invention may comprise the step of:

- verifying if the patient has activated automatic status notification on the study before generating and sending the first notification message and the second notification message.

[24] Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the computer-implemented method according to the present invention, the patient can activate/deactivate the auto- notification. In case the auto-notification is deactivated, no notification will be sent upon the radiologist starting to read the study and no notification message will be sent upon the radiologist finalizing his report.

[25] In addition to a computer-implemented method as defined by claims 1-9, the present invention relates to a data processing system as defined by claim 10, comprising means for carrying out the method of any of claims 1 to 9.

[26] The present invention further also relates to a corresponding computer program as defined by claim 1 1 , comprising software code adapted to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 9. [27] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer readable storage medium as defined by claim 12, comprising the computer program.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[28] Fig. 1 illustrates a medical imaging system wherein an embodiment of the computer-implemented method according to the present invention is used;

[29] Fig. 2 illustrates the message flow in the medical imaging system of Fig. 1 ; - -

[30] Fig. 3 illustrates the workflow implemented in the clinical application server CAS in the medical imaging system of Fig. 1 ;

[31] Fig. 4A illustrates the first notification message sent according to the present invention in the medical imaging system of Fig. 1 ;

[32] Fig. 4B illustrates the status information that is accessible through a link in the first notification message shown in Fig. 4A;

[33] Fig. 4C illustrates the second notification message sent according to the present invention in the medical imaging system of Fig. 1 ;

[34] Fig. 4D illustrates the status information that is accessible through a link in the second notification message shown in Fig. 4C;

[35] Fig. 4E illustrates the medical report that is accessible through a link in the status information shown in Fig. 4D;

[36] Fig. 5A shows screenshot of a proxy server configuration screen generated by the computer program product according to the present invention;

[37] Fig. 5B shows screenshot of a status mapping configuration screen generated by the computer program product according to the present invention;

[38] Fig. 5C shows screenshot of an authentication configuration screen generated by the computer program product according to the present invention; and

[39] Fig. 5D shows screenshot of a page configuration screen generated by the computer program product according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiment(s) - -

[40] The system drawn in Fig. 1 comprises a clinical application server, CAS or 104, and report status monitor server, RSM or 105. Fig. 1 further shows a patient 101 a having a smartphone 101 b and a computer 101 c, e.g. a laptop or desktop, an administrator 107a with computer 107b having connectivity to RSM 105, and a radiologist 106a with computer 106b having connectivity to CAS 104.

[41] As is indicated by arrow 1 1 1 , the patient 101a first contacts the hospital 102 to get his examination scheduled. At the point in time the examination is scheduled, the patient 101 a visits the technician to take the examination at modality 103. This is indicated by arrow 1 12 in Fig. 1 . The technician(s) may perform some post processing on the images that result from the examination. Thereafter, as is indicated by arrow 1 13 in Fig. 1 , the images are sent to the clinical application server CAS 104 for being stored. [42] At a later point in time, possibly a few days later, the radiologist 106a will open the patient's study stored in CAS 04 and start reading it. This will be notified to CAS

104 via notification 1 14. As soon as the radiologist 106a starts reading the study, the RSM server 105 will receive a notification 1 15a from CAS 104, and the RSM server

105 will send a first notification message, e.g. an SMS message 1 15b and/or an e- mail message 1 15c to the patient that will arrive respectively at the patient's smartphone 101 b and the patient's e-mail account at computer 101 c. The first notification message 401 is shown in Fig. 4A. This notification message 401 informs the patient, Mr. Li, that the radiologist has started to read his study. In the SMS message 1 15b and/or e-mail 115c, a link is contained that refers to the status of the patient's study as maintained in CAS 104, together with parameters that enable to query the system, e.g. authentication credentials such as the patient ID, "1234567890" in Fig. 4A, and password, "2jk4mn" in Fig. 4A, that must be used when querying the status of the study. The password may for instance be a randomly generated password for accessing the system. The notification message 401 shown in Fig. 4A for instance contains a link 41 1 enabling the patient to query status information on his study, and a WAP push link 412 that can be used to query status information in case the patient is notified by SMS. - -

[43] The patient 101 a can use the link 411 from his PC 101 c, or link 412 from his smartphone 101 b. As is indicated by arrow 1 16a and 1 16b in Fig. 1 , the patient shall query status information to RSM 105 which will relay the request 1 16c to CAS 104. As a consequence, the status changes and latest progress on the study can be monitored as indicated by the bi-directional arrows 1 16a, 116b and 1 16c. A status report 402 is shown in Fig. 4B. This status report 402 at any point in time contains an indication of the actual status 421 of the patient's report, and eventual additional information like the procedure name or type of examination conducted, thestudy time spent on the patient's study, the queue length, the terms of service, etc.

[44] When the report is finalized and signed off by the radiologist 106a, CAS 104 is again notified through notification 1 17. CAS 104 shall notify this fact to RSM 105 via notification 118a, as a result of which a second notification message is sent to the patient, e.g. a second SMS message 118b and/or a second e-mail message 1 18c that shall arrive respectively at the smartphone 101 b and/or the patient's email account on his PC 101 c. The second notification message 403 is shown in Fig. 4C. This second notification message 403 informs the patient, Mr. Li, on the fact that the report on his study has been finalized. In addition, the second notification message 403 contains a link, e.g. a WWW link 431 and/or a WAP link 432, that enable the patient to access the system and query the final report. Querying the final report from the smartphone 101 b or PC 101 c is illustrated by bi-directional arrows 1 19a, 1 19b and 1 19c in Fig. 1 . The patient shall query RSM server 105 which will relay the request to CAS 104. CAS 104 in return delivers the final report, and eventually the images that form part of the study. Fig. 4D for instance shows the status information 404 that the patient gets in return to his request. The status information indicates in field 441 that the study is finished, and it contains a link 442 to the final report. Through link 442, the patient can access the report. An example of such report 405 is shown in Fig. 4E. [45] In summary, the computer-implemented method according to the present invention mainly consists of two parts from the patient's or end user's perspective: an automatic notification part and a query part. Notification of the fact that the radiologist started to read the study and notification of the fact that the radiologist finalized the report is sent to the patient or stakeholders by e-mail/SMS/facsimile/etc. The query - - part of the system can be accessed through for instance WWW or WAP, and allows the patient to get the latest update on the study easily. As soon as the report is finalized, the patient can access the final report and images directly through the query system.

[46] Fig. 2 shows the radiologist application 206 that is running on the radiologist's computer 106b, a picture archiving and communication system, PACS or 204, comprising the clinical application server 204a and proxy server 204b, and a report status monitor server, RSM or 205, as well as the communication flow there between for automatic notification and status information request handling in accordance with the present invention. The clinical application server 204a corresponds with CAS 104 of Fig. 1 and also RSM server 205 corresponds with RSM server 105 of Fig. 1. Proxy server 204b is added between the CAS 204a and external servers such as RSM 205 because the application server 204a might communicate with other external systems, for instance to get the examination status from third party applications. The proxy server 204b guarantees high scalability, extensibility, and uniform communication. The proxy server 204b is transparent to external servers such as RSM 205 and the application server CAS 204a. Fig. 2 further assumes that the images and reports are stored in a separate image and report repository 208 that is not part of PACS 204.

[47] In Fig. 2, the images are supposed to be uploaded and stored in the image and report repository 208 as soon as the patient has finished his exam in 211 at the hospital. At a certain point in time, typically a few hours up to a few days after the patient has finished his exam in 21 1 , the radiologist starts reading the study via the radiologist application 206 on his PC. This is indicated by step 212 in Fig. 2. At that point in time, an automatic notification, e.g. an HTTPS message 221 , is sent from the radiologist app 206 to CAS 204a where this message is further relayed to the proxy server 204b via HTTPS message 222 and finally relayed to the RSM server 205 via HTTPS message 223. The RSM server 205 upon receipt of notification message 223 shall generate a first notification message 224 for the patient 201 and shall send this first notification message via e-mail and/or SMS to the patient's terminal(s). The first notification message 224 notifies the patient 201 of the fact that the radiologist has started to read his study and it contains a link as well as user credentials that the patient 201 can use to actively monitor the status of his study. - -

[48] In order to obtain status information on his study, the patient 201 has to query the status information via a query message 231 that is generated for instance by clicking the link obtained in notification message 224. The query message is relayed by RSM server 205 to proxy server 204b as message 232, and further relayed from proxy server 204b to the application server 204a as message 233. These query messages 232 and 233 may for instance be HTTPS messages. The application server CAS 204a returns the request with status information or it may first contact the radiologist app 206 to query the actual status information via message 234 in case the application server 204a does not have recently updated status information on the study. The communication flow 231 , 232, 233 and 234 is bi-directionally to indicate that the status information is returned to the patient 201 in response to his/her query. The status information may for instance indicate that the radiologist started transcribing the report, that the radiologist started reviewing and correcting the report, etc. as is indicated by step 213 in Fig. 2.

[49] When the radiologist has finalized the report on the patient's study, he signs- off the report in the radiologist app 206, as is indicated by step 214 in Fig. 2. The radiologist app 206 shall again automatically generate a notification message 241 , e.g. an HTTPS message, and send this notification message 241 to CAS 204a. CAS 204a relays the received message to proxy server 204b via message 242, and the latter proxy server 204b in turn relays the message to RSM server 205 as message 243. Upon receipt of message 243, the RSM server 205 generates a second notification message 244 that is sent via e-mail and/or SMS to the patient 201. The second notification message indicates that the report is finalized and it further contains a link or reference to the final report stored in the image and report repository 208.

[50] Via the link received in message 244, the patient 201 can access the final report and images. Thereto, a request 231 is sent to the RSM server 205 which further relays the request as message 232 to the proxy server 204b. The proxy server shall contact the image & report repository 208 and obtain therefrom the final report and eventual images, as is indicated by the bi-directional arrow 235. Just like - - the status information here above, the final report and images are returned to the patient, as indicated by the bi-directional arrows 232 and 231.

[51] Fig. 3 illustrates the internal workflow of the application server 104 and RSM server 105 to handle a status information request from a patient. This RSM server 301 receives notifications and sends e-mail messages or SMS messages upon receipt of such notifications, as is indicated by 302 in Fig. 3. Via the RSM server 301 , the administrator 107a can configure the system as is indicated by CONFIG SYSTEM in Fig. 3. The configuration is loaded by the proxy server in step 303 as a result of which a query form can be displayed in step 304 to be completed by the patient. The proxy server thereupon will be queried in step 305 as a result of which the proxy server will load the configuration again in step 306. The application server shall display the status information in return to the query in step 307. As soon as the report is finalized, the application server shall also display a link to the images and the final report together with the status information, as is indicated by steps 308 and 309 in Fig. 3.

[52] It is noticed that the system drawn in Fig. 1 also contains a configuration part such that a system administrator 107a can configure the application server and RSM server from his PC 107b. The system administrator 107a for instance can configure which fields will be used as search criteria, fonts, backgrounds, workflows, etc. A few examples of configuration screens are shown in Fig. 5A - Fig. 5D. Fig. 5A for instance shows a configuration screen 501 enabling the administrator 107a to select the proxy 501 that will be used by the RSM server. The name, address and specific remarks of the proxy server can be modified in a proxy form window 502. The modifications to a proxy configuration can be saved, an existing proxy can be deleted or a new proxy can be added through the buttons 503. Fig. 5B shows a configuration screen 502 enabling the administrator 107a to configure the status mapping between RSM server and proxy. The administrator can select a proxy server from a drop list 521 , select the internal status information 522 of the RSM server and map that internal status information to status information 523 that the patient will see. The status mapping as configured by the administrator 107a is then saved using button 524. Fig. 5C shows a configuration screen 503 enabling the administrator 107a to configure the authentication fields that will be used when allowing a patient to access - - status information. The administrator first selects a proxy from a drop list 531. Thereafter, the administrator selects the security fields 532 that a patient needs to fill out in the login page. As is indicated by 533, these selected security fields are moved to be displayed in the login page, and the security configuration is finally saved through button 534. Fig. 5D shows a configuration screen 504 enabling the administrator 107a to configure the status information page 541 b that is made accessible to the patient. The administrator first selects via radio buttons 541 a the type of page and consequently the type of device that can be used to preview the status information. Thereafter, the administrator 107a can select the font size, the font color, background color and refresh period in 542a. The administrator can also configure the term of service in 542b and for instance set the logo that will be used in the status information page 541 b. The configuration settings are again saved using the save button 543. [53] The method according to the invention shall typically be computer- implemented on a data processing system or computing device. A data processing system or computing device that is operated according to the present invention can include a workstation, a server, a laptop, a desktop, a hand-held device, a mobile device, a tablet computer, or other computing device, as would be understood by those of skill in the art.

[54] The data processing system or computing device can include a bus or network for connectivity between several components, directly or indirectly, a memory or database, one or more processors, input/output ports, a power supply, etc. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the bus or network can include one or more busses, such as an address bus, a data bus, or any combination thereof, or can include one or more network links. One of skill in the art additionally will appreciate that, depending on the intended applications and uses of a particular embodiment, multiple of these components can be implemented by a single device. Similarly, in some instances, a single component can be implemented by multiple devices.

[55] The data processing system or computing device can include or interact with a variety of computer-readable media. For example, computer-readable media can include Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Electronically - -

Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technologies, CDROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical or holographic media, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices that can be used to encode information and can be accessed by the data processing system or computing device.

[56] The memory can include computer-storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. The memory may be removable, non-removable, or any combination thereof. Exemplary hardware devices are devices such as hard drives, solid-state memory, optical-disc drives, or the like. The data processing system or computing device can include one or more processors that read data from components such as the memory, the various I/O components, etc.

[57] The I/O ports can allow the data processing system or computing device to be logically coupled to other devices, such as I/O components. Some of the I/O components can be built into the computing device. Examples of such I/O components include a microphone, joystick, recording device, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, networking device, or the like. [58] Although the present invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention may be embodied with various changes and modifications without departing from the scope thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. In other words, it is contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the basic underlying principles and whose essential attributes are claimed in this patent application. It will furthermore be understood by the reader of this patent application that the words "comprising" or "comprise" do not exclude other elements or steps, that the words "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality, and that a single element, such as a computer system, a processor, or another integrated unit may - - fulfil the functions of several means recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the respective claims concerned. The terms "first", "second", third", "a", "b", "c", and the like, when used in the description or in the claims are introduced to distinguish between similar elements or steps and are not necessarily describing a sequential or chronological order. Similarly, the terms "top", "bottom", "over", "under", and the like are introduced for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to denote relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and embodiments of the invention are capable of operating according to the present invention in other sequences, or in orientations different from the one(s) described or illustrated above.

Claims

1. In a medical imaging system wherein medical images and reports are archived, a computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:

- detecting that a radiologist (106a) who is a user of said medical imaging system starts reading a study on a patient (101 a);

- automatically generating and sending to said patient (101 a) a first notification message (1 15b, 115c; 401 ) indicating that said radiologist (106a) started reading said study, said first notification message (1 15b, 1 15c; 401 ) comprising a link (41 1 , 412) enabling said patient (101 a) to query status information (402) on said study;

- detecting that said radiologist (106a) finalized his report on said study; and

- automatically generating and sending to said patient (101 a) a second notification message (1 18b, 1 18c; 403) indicating that said report is finalized, said second notification message (1 18b, 1 18c; 403) comprising a link (431 , 432, 442) to said report (405).

2. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein said first notification message (1 15c) and said second notification message ( 18c) are e-mail messages.

3. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein said first notification message (1 15b) and said second notification message (1 18b) are Short Message Service or SMS messages.

4. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein said first notification message (1 15b, 1 15c, 401 ) comprises user credentials enabling said patient to access said medical imaging system and consult said status information (402).

5. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein said second notification message (1 18b, 1 18c, 403) comprises user credentials enabling said patient to access said medical imaging system and consult said report (405).

6. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein said link (41 1 , 412) in said first notification message (401 ) and said link (431 , 432, 442) in said second notification message (403) are World Wide Web (WWW) or Wireless Application Platform (WAP) links.

7. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

- automatically generating and sending one or more additional notification message to said patient (101 a) upon one or more predetermined status change of said study.

8. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein said status information comprises one or more of the following:

- information indicative for the current status of said study;

- information indicative for the time whereon said radiologist started reading said study;

- information indicative for the time whereon said radiologist started reading an annex to said study;

- information indicative for the time whereon said radiologist started dictating said report;

- information indicative for the time whereon said radiologist started transcribing said report;

- information indicative for the time whereon said radiologist started reviewing said report; and

- information indicative for the time whereon said radiologist approved said report.

9. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

- verifying if said patient (101 a) has activated automatic status notification on said study before generating and sending said first notification message (1 15b, 1 15c;

401 ) and said second notification message (1 18b, 1 18c; 403).

10. A data processing system comprising means for carrying out the method of any of claims 1 to 9.

1 . A computer program comprising software code adapted to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 9. 12. A computer readable storage medium comprising the computer program of claim 1 1 .