Notepad version 5.1 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) and Emacs version 23.3.1 were used to compose the AutoHotkey and Autopage scripts, respectively. Python is a free, portable, and extensible scripting language that can automate online searching and handle the Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) requests and responses commonly encountered during web navigation.
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AutoHotkey is a free online scripting language used to program routine computer desktop tasks such as repeated mouse clicks into single keystrokes. Similar scripts may be implemented at most institutions that currently use standalone online alpha-paging systems.Īutopage was implemented on Windows (XP and 2000) (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) operating systems using the free online scripting programs “AutoHotkey” and “Python 2.7” in conjunction with PACS software, Imagecast (General Electric, Fairfield, CT). A free and adaptable computing script was developed instead to increase the efficiency of paging referring clinicians.
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A similarly functioning program might require integration into Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) software and could be expensive to implement. This would significantly decrease the amount of time and number of distractions incurred by sending pages for both routine and critical communications. Alpha-paging may involve opening a web browser, querying the referring physician’s pager identification, followed by populating an online form that contains a callback number, message, referring physician pager identification, and the name of the sending radiologist.Īn automated paging script could combine these multiple steps into one or two keystrokes. Many institutions use web-based online forms to send text, or “alpha-pages”, to referring clinicians about imaging results. Paging a referring clinician with a critical result may be delayed or forgotten altogether because of these deterrents. Such activities generate a repeated distraction that may contribute to fatigue, decreased attention, and overall decreased efficiency. A microtask such as this takes less than 1 min to complete, but often requires a radiologist’s coordinated attention to multiple mouse clicks as well as population of online web forms containing callback numbers and patient information. Paging referring clinicians with imaging results is a routine, yet critical task performed by radiologists and represents a National Patient Safety goal by the Joint Commission.