Annual breast cancer screening is a chapter many women are hesitant to add to their personal medical history books. Undergoing frequent mammograms and other imaging exams means growing that mid-life medical history, often in a complicated way. In breast health, access to prior exams is critical in determining if and how the images have changed. Radiologists and other specialists — typically at separate locations — require access to a detailed patient history in providing optimal, safe care. Patients, too, must be proactive about their own screening and care decisions, especially considering risks of radiation dose and other clinical treatments.

Clinical decision support (CDS) software has been discussed for years as a way to help clinicians follow best practice guidelines and to help eliminate unnecessary tests or procedures. However, implementing these systems has been slow, partly due to their cost and complexity, and partly due to pushback from physicians. But a new chapter is about to open for CDS as healthcare reform will soon require implementation of these systems.