WO2014026958A1

WO2014026958A1 - A medical imaging workflow management system

Info

Publication number: WO2014026958A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/066858
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joost Felix; Roel ADRIAENSENS
Original assignee: Agfa Healthcare
Priority date: 2012-08-16
Filing date: 2013-08-13
Publication date: 2014-02-20

Abstract

There is provided a medical imaging workflow management system comprising, a data processing system (1) and a medical image acquisition device (2) connected to said data processing system (1). The data processing system 1 makes use of a medical procedure plan template (10) for creating a medical procedure plan (20), comprising one or more medical image acquisition tasks (42) for said medical image acquisition device (2); which during creation or execution is replaceable by a modified medical procedure plan (30). The medical image acquisition device (2) executes said one or more medical image acquisition tasks (42) during execution of said medical procedure plan (20).

Description

A MEDICAL IMAGING WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

Field of the Invention

[01] The present invention generally relates to medical imaging workflow management system, i.e. management of the different medical tasks to be performed by an individual or a team of individuals. Workflow management is important in medical applications, especially when involving medical imaging applications, such as radiology, where for example a technician makes medical images of a patient (e.g. an x-ray scan, a CT scan, an MRI scan, an ultrasound scan, etc.), a radiologist interprets the medical images, a transcriptionist produces a report reflecting the radiologists' interpretation, and a clinician receives the report and advises the patient. The individuals and medical image acquisition devices involved in the entire workflow may be working at a single facility (e.g. a hospital or imaging centre) or may be working at different locations (e.g. a hospital or enterprise with multiple facilities). In order to govern the different medical tasks to be performed, a workflow management tool will be deployed and made accessible to the involved individuals at different locations.

[02] The current invention in particular concerns a medical imaging workflow management system that provides access to pre-defined standardised medical procedure plans in order to improve efficiency, quality and reliability of the workflow involving the operation of a medical image acquisition device.

Background of the Invention

[03] WO02/39899 describes a computer-implemented method of executing a medical imaging procedure on a patients that makes use of a workflow template containing a specific desired sequence of medical imaging activities. After entering patient data into this workflow template the desired sequence of activities is executed by invoking this workflow template in conjunction with medical imaging acquisition and processing equipment. If during execution of a certain step of the medical image procedure, for example during the acquisition of a medical image or during the postprocessing of this image a change occurs, such as for example a change of parameters for operating the image acquisition device, then the activities that follow in the sequence of activities of the workflow after the activity where the change occurred are re-executed. Although this method offers some improvement with respect to quality and reliability of the workflow, it does not document the actual workflow well as it only re-executes subsequent steps after a parameter change without leaving any trace of this re-execution. Changing the workflow according to this known method requires modification of an already executed step, because a deviation of the sequence of steps as defined in the workflow template is not possible.

[04] Further known systems comprising methods for workflow management in medical applications comprising workflow templates are described in US2003/0050801 , US2007/0282476 or US2010/0208959. However none of the described methods provides means for adding sufficient flexibility for adapting the sequence of activities as provided in the workflow template to specific patient needs, nor does it document any deviations or adaptions of this sequence of activities in a reliable and complete way. Furthermore in such systems a desire to change the sequence of activities results in the need to change the sequence of activities as defined in the workflow template or the creation of a new workflow template. This could lead to errors, for example if after a temporary modification the initial workflow template is not restored, or a reduction in efficiency, for example if for an adapted workflow that will be only executed once there needs to be created a new workflow template first. [05] It is an objective of the present invention to disclose a medical imaging workflow management system and a related method and computer program product that overcome the above identified drawbacks of the known workflow management tools involving the operation of a medical image acquisition device. In particular, it is an objective of the invention to provide a medical imaging workflow management system that enables sufficient flexibility to adapt the initial medical procedure plan involving the operation of a medical image acquisition device to the individual needs of the patient and allowing the possibility to reliably document any deviations or adaption of the medical procedure plan while executing it without the necessity to change the medical procedure plan template itself. Summary of the Invention [06] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a medical imaging workflow management system comprising, a data processing system and a medical image acquisition device connected to said data processing system, said data processing system configured to:

- provide at least one medical procedure plan template comprising an initial sequence of a plurality of initial medical tasks, comprising one or more medical image acquisition tasks for said medical image acquisition device;

- select a medical procedure plan template;

- create a medical procedure plan comprising a sequence of medical tasks identical to said initial sequence of said plurality of initial medical tasks from said selected medical procedure plan template;

- executing said medical procedure plan by executing said sequence of medical tasks,

Said medical image acquisition device configured to execute said one or more medical image acquisition tasks during execution of said medical procedure plan, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said data processing system is further configured to replace said medical procedure plan by a modified medical procedure plan, during said creation or said execution of said medical procedure plan.

[07] This enables the medical imaging workflow management system to operate in an efficient way while still allowing sufficient flexibility to modify the sequence of medical tasks in the medical procedure plan without the necessity to modify the associated sequence as initially defined in the medical procedure plan template. Especially in the context of a medical procedure plan it is highly desirable to document any deviation from the standard procedure in an efficient and reliable way and make it available in an efficient way to the other actors that need to perform subsequent medical tasks of the medical procedure plan in order to achieve an optimal outcome and decrease any health risks or errors in medical analysis. It should further be clear that although a method for workflow management as such could be classified as a business method, the current medical imaging workflow management system does not only clearly involve technical means such as the data processing system and the connected medical image acquisition device, it also involves differentiating features over the prior art that clearly involve the benefit of increased flexibility related to these technical features during the automatic operation of a medical image acquisition device for performing a medical image acquisition task during execution of a medical procedure plan with a suitable data processing system without compromising flexibility.

[08] According to an embodiment said medical image acquisition task comprises protocol codes comprising parameters for operating said medical image acquisition device,

Said data processing system is configured to send said parameters automatically to said medical image acquisition device, and in that

Said medical image acquisition device is configured to:

- receive said parameters from said data processing system, and

- execute said medical image acquisition tasks with said parameters.

[09] In this way errors associated with manual, case by case configuration of often complicated medical image acquisition devices are avoided and a further efficiency gain is accomplished. This results in increased user friendliness during its operation with a reduced possibility of erroneous input of operating parameters without compromising the flexibility for an operator to adapt these parameters to specific circumstances. [10] According to an embodiment said modified medical procedure plan comprises at least one modified medical task that differs from said initial medical tasks of said medical procedure plan template.

[11] According to a further embodiment said modified medical procedure plan comprises a modified sequence of medical tasks that differs from said initial sequence of medical tasks of said medical procedure plan template.

[12] Optionally said sequence medical tasks of said medical procedure plan further comprises: - one or more preparatory medical tasks sequenced before said one or more medical image acquisition medical tasks;

- one or more follow-up steps sequenced after said one or more medical image acquisition medical tasks.

[13] According to an embodiment each of said medical tasks in said medical procedure plan comprises:

- a medical task actor comprising an indicator for the person responsible for execution of said medical task;

- a medical task status comprising an indicator for indicating whether said medical task was executed.

[14] In this way assignment and follow up of the medical tasks is enabled. [15] Preferably said medical procedure plan comprises a medical procedure plan status for indicating whether the medical procedure plan was executed, said medical procedure plan status indicating said medical procedure plan was executed when the medical task status of all medical tasks of its sequence of medical tasks indicates they were executed.

[16] This allows to easily identify any pending medical procedure plans.

[17] Preferably said data processing system is further configured to no longer modify said medical procedure plan when said medical procedure plan status indicates said medical procedure plan was executed.

[18] Especially in the context of a medical procedure plan this enables to the store the sequence of medical tasks as they were executed in reality, including any modifications made at creation or during execution, for example in the context of medical evidence or in order to link to the patients' medical history.

[19] According to a further embodiment said data processing system is further configured to create for each of said medical task actors an actor medical task schedule comprising said medical tasks of which the medical task status indicates they are not yet executed.

[20] In this way the actor can efficiently process the medical tasks of the medical procedure plan that are assigned to him.

[21] Preferably said data processing system is further configured to display said medical procedure plan associated with a particular medical task in said actor medical task schedule when said particular medical task is executed or modified by said actor.

[22] This allows an efficient review of any modifications to the sequence of medical tasks in the medical procedure plan for the actor that needs to execute a particular medical task.

[23] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a medical imaging workflow management system according to the first aspect of the invention. [24] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program comprising software code adapted to perform the method according to the second aspect of the invention when executed by a computing system.

[25] According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a computer readable storage medium comprising the computer program according to the third aspect of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the method according to the invention; [27] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a suitable computing system for operating according to the method of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of Embodiment(s)

[28] Figure 1 shows schematically a medical imaging workflow management system comprising a data processing system 1 and a connected medical image acquisition device 2 and its method of operation. Such a workflow management system is for example implemented as a software application comprising suitable programming instructions for execution by a processor of a computing system. Alternatively it could form a component of a software application, for example in the form of an application module, by means of a programming library, as network component being accessible through a suitable application program interface, or any other suitable implementation. The medical workflow management system 1 is especially beneficial when being part of a system that automatically generates a large number of workflows that comprise interrelated medical tasks for a large number of actors. This is for example the case in the context of a workflow management system 1 in a medical imaging environment, such software application is for instance important in medical applications such as radiology, where a nurse needs to suitably prepare the patient for the imaging operation by providing and recording information to and from the patient, a technician acquires medical images of a patient (e.g. an x-ray scan, a CT scan, an MRI scan, an ultrasound scan, etc.) and post-processes these images in order to enable specific forms of analysis, a radiologist interprets the medical images, a transcriptionist produces a report reflecting the radiologists' interpretation, and a clinician receives the report and advises the patient. The individuals involved in the entire workflow may be working at a single facility (e.g. a hospital or imaging centre) or may be working at different locations (e.g. a hospital or enterprise with multiple facilities). The workflow management system is preferably connected to an image acquisition device 2 in order to automatically communicate with the device, for example via a suitable network interface, in order to provide parameters its operation to the medical image acquisition device 2 and/or receive parameters or image data from the medical image acquisition device 2. [29] The method of operation of this medical imaging workflow management system is initiated at step 80 where an order is created or received for performing a specific workflow. According to the embodiment as shown in Figure 1 this workflow is related to a medical procedure plan 40 comprising a sequence medical tasks of a medical procedure plan 40 that comprises one or more medical image acquisition tasks 42 with a medical image acquisition device 2. This medical acquisition device 2 could for example be an x-ray scan, a CT scan, an MRI scan, an ultrasound scan, etc. The medical image acquisition task 42 might merely be related to operating the medical image acquisition device 2 with the correct parameters for producing the correct medical images, but it might also comprise operations on the patient such as for example administering a suitable contrast agent, documents to be provided or correctly positioning the patient on the medical image acquisition device 2, or other instructions such as for example safety instructions. Such an medical image acquisition task 42 could further comprise information concerning the medical task duration. The sequence of initial medical tasks 12 could further comprises one or more preparatory medical tasks 46, which need to be performed before the image acquisition medical task 42 in order to prepare the patient, for example by injecting contrast media or filling in a questionnaire, or image acquisition device 2 suitably. The medical procedure plan template 10 comprising this initial sequence of a plurality of initial medical tasks 12, comprising a medical image acquisition task 42 for the medical image acquisition device 2, could also comprise in the sequence of initial medical tasks one or more follow-up medical tasks 48 to be performed after the medical image acquisition task 42, such as for example post processing of the medical image, 3-D reconstruction, printing of medical images, generation of suitable reports, reading tasks for the physician, ... .

[30] In order to efficiently compile such medical procedure plan 40 comprising a sequence of medical tasks and provide for consistency in the quality of the medical procedure plan 40, in step 82 there is provided at least one medical procedure plan template 10 comprising an initial sequence of a plurality of initial medical tasks 12. Subsequently a suitable medical procedure plan template is selected in function of the medical procedure plan 40 to be performed. The selection of the most suitable medical procedure plan template 10 for the medical procedure plan 40 at hand can for example be performed automatically based on information provided at the order creation step. Such information could for example be related to the context of use which could for example provide a modality type, the body part, patient information such as for example age, weight, allergies, .... The medical procedure plan templates could comprise such context of use parameters and can as such be automatically filtered to provide the most relevant medical procedure plan template 10 for selection in function of the current order. Step 84 is optionally available in order to create new medical procedure plan templates 10 or update existing medical procedure plan templates 10, which will then become available for selection for future orders for a medical procedure plan 40.

[31] After selection of a suitable medical procedure plan template 10, which could for example be subject to review, at step 86 a medical procedure plan 20 is created comprising a sequence of medical tasks 22 identical to the initial sequence of the plurality of initial medical tasks 12 from the selected medical procedure plan template 10. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 1 two medical procedure plans 20 have been created from the same medical procedure plan template 10 as the consequence of two separate orders for a similar medical procedure plans 40. Each of these medical procedure plans 20 is then executed by executing the corresponding sequence of medical tasks 22 they comprise. During the creation of these medical procedure plans 20 or as will be explained further below during the execution of these medical procedure plans 20 it is possible to modify the medical procedure plan without affecting the medical procedure plan template 10 it was copied from. In order to enable this the medical procedure plans 20 are replaceable by a modified medical procedure plan 30. Such a modified medical procedure plan 30 could comprise for example at least one modified medical task 32 that differs from the initial medical tasks 12 of the medical procedure plan template 10. A modified medical task 32 could be a completely new medical task that replaces the current medical task 22, for example replacing medical image acquisition task 22, 42 which comprises an X ray acquisition could be replaced by modified acquisition medical task 32, 42 which comprises a CT scan. Alternatively the modified medical task 32 could be a modification of the current medical task 22, for example in function of the weight of the patient the dosage of the contrast agent or sedative is adapted. According to still a further alternative the modified medical procedure plan 30 comprises a modified sequence of medical tasks 22 or modified medical tasks 32 that differs from said initial sequence of medical tasks 12, for example where the sequence originally comprises a two acquisition medical tasks 22, one for an X ray acquisition followed by one for a CT scan, their sequence could be modified, or one of both could be deleted, or still a further third acquisition medical task 22 could be added to the sequence. It is clear that equally any suitable combination of these possibilities for creating a modified medical procedure plan are possible. The modified medical procedure plan 30 could be created as schematically shown in Figure 1 during step 94, for example as the consequence of an optional review operation for the radiologist at step 90 during the creation of the medical procedure plan 20.

[32] According to a preferred embodiment the acquisition medical task 42 comprises protocol codes comprising parameters 44 for operating said medical image acquisition device 2. Such parameters could for example be X-Ray tube current level and peak kilovoltage, but could equally be any other suitable parameter for operating the medical image acquisition device 2. Such parameters could be provided in the form of a list comprising identifiers identifying these parameters together with their values. These identifiers could be standardised codes such as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) or any other suitable format available for automatically identifying these parameters 44. This then renders it possible for the data processing system 1 to automatically send these parameters 44 to the medical image acquisition device 2. Upon reception of these parameters 44 the medical image acquisition device 2 will execute the medical image acquisition task 42 with said parameters 44.

[33] As schematically shown in Figure 1 the method of operation of the medical imaging workflow management system will then again proceed to step 88 but now the modified medical procedure plan 30 will have replaced the medical procedure plan 20 that was first created from the medical procedure plan template 10. The sequence of medical tasks in the medical procedure plan will comprise as described above at least one medical image acquisition medical task 42, optionally preceded by one or more preparatory medical tasks 46 and optionally followed by one or more follow up medical tasks. Each of these medical tasks preferably comprises a medical task actor 24 comprising an indicator for the person responsible for execution of the medical task 22, such as for example a nurse, a technician, a radiologist, a physician, ... . Such actors 24 could be a specific person, but could equally be a group of persons such as for example a team of technicians responsible for a specific image acquisition device 2. Further these medical tasks preferably also comprise a medical task status 26 comprising an indicator for indicating whether said medical task 22 was executed. It is clear that such a medical task status 26 could optionally have other additional values indicating the current status of the medical task 22, for example an indication that the medical task 22 is assigned, pending, deferred, ... . Preferably also the medical procedure plan 20 itself comprises a medical procedure plan status 28. This medical procedure plan status then indicates whether the medical procedure plan was executed completely. In order to do so the medical procedure plan status 28 marks execution when the medical task status 26 of all medical tasks of its sequence of medical tasks 22 indicates the complete sequence of medical tasks 22 was executed. When the medical procedure plan 20 was executed as indicated by its medical procedure plan status 28, the method can proceed to step 96 in which for example the medical procedure plan 20, including all its modifications is stored for archiving, for example in order to serve as medical evidence or to serve as a reference for a patient history record. Therefor the medical procedure plan status 28 indicates the medical procedure plan 20 was executed, preferably the medical procedure plan 20 can no longer be modified.

[34] In order to increase efficiency for accessing the medical procedure plans 20 and their modification by the actors in step 92 there is created for each of these medical task actors 24 an actor medical task schedule 60, which is then made available to the respective actors 24 at step 94. Figure 1 shows three such actor medical task schedules, for example one for the nurse, one for the technologist and one for the radiologist. Each of the medical tasks listed in the actor medical task schedules comprising the medical tasks 22 comprising this medical task actor 24 of which the medical task status 26 indicates they are not yet executed. In this way each of the actors 24 is provided with access to their respective schedule of medical tasks 22 that they need to perform. They can for example be visualised by means of a suitable user interface in which these medical tasks 22 are listed and enables the respective actor 24 to for example execute them and subsequently edit the medical task status 26 accordingly. Preferably the user interface displays the medical procedure plan 20 associated with a particular medical task 22 in said actor medical task schedule 60 when said particular medical task 22 is executed or modified by said actor 24. In that way the actor is able to review any preceding or following medical tasks 22 and any modifications made to them, for example by other actors 24. In order to still further improve the efficiency of this review preferably any previous modifications to the medical tasks 22 in the medical procedure plan 20 are marked by an indicator, for example by means of highlighting the modified items of the medical task 22, so that the actor can quickly track any modifications. Subsequently the actor can decide execute the medical task 22 listed in its actor medical task schedule 60, make any other modifications to it or modify the medical task schedule 20 associated with it by proceeding to step 94 in which the modified medical procedure plan 30 is created that will replace the medical procedure plan 20 as explained above.

[35] Figure 2 shows a suitable computing system 100 for hosting data processing system 1 for the medical workflow management system of Figure 1. Computing system 100 may in general be formed as a suitable general purpose computer, such as 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. The computing system 100 comprises a bus 1 10, a processor 102, a local memory 104, one or more optional input interfaces 1 14, one or more optional output interfaces 1 6, a communication interface 112, a storage element interface 106 and one or more storage elements 108. Bus 110 may comprise one or more conductors that permit communication among the components of the computing system. Processor 102 may include any type of conventional processor or microprocessor that interprets and executes programming instructions. Local memory 104 may include a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions for execution by processor 102 and/or a read only memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device that stores static information and instructions for use by processor 104. Input interface 1 14 may comprise one or more conventional mechanisms that permit an operator to input information to the computing device 100, such as a keyboard 120, a mouse 130, a pen, voice recognition and/or biometric mechanisms, etc. Output interface 1 16 may comprise one or more conventional mechanisms that output information to the operator, such as a display 140, a printer 150, a speaker, etc. Communication interface 1 12 may comprise any transceiver-like mechanism such as for example two 1 Gb Ethernet interfaces that enables computing system 100 to communicate with other devices and/or systems, for example mechanisms for communicating with one or more other computing systems 200. The communication interface 112 of computing system 100 may be connected to such another computing system by means of a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN, such as for example the internet, in which case the other computing system 200 may for example comprise a suitable web server. Storage element interface 106 may comprise a storage interface such as for example a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interface or a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) for connecting bus 1 10 to one or more storage elements 108, such as one or more local disks, for example 1TB SATA disk drives, and control the reading and writing of data to and/or from these storage elements 108. Although the storage elements 108 above is described as a local disk, in general any other suitable computer-readable media such as a removable magnetic disk, optical storage media such as a CD or DVD disk, solid state drives, flash memory, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) or other memory technologies, 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 computing system 100 could be used. [36] The method of operating the medical workflow management system can be implemented as programming instructions stored it local memory 104 of the computing system 100 for execution by its processor 102. Alternatively the workflow management system 1 could be stored on the storage element 108 or be accessible from another computing system 200 through the communication interface 1 12. Such a plurality of suitably connected computing systems could for example form a system or platform with client-server architecture in which the medical images, reports and medical tasks are maintained centrally or distributed on one or more servers. [37] 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. A medical imaging workflow management system comprising, a data processing system (1) and a medical image acquisition device (2) connected to said data processing system (1), said data processing system (1) configured to:

- provide at least one medical procedure plan template (10) comprising an initial sequence of a plurality of initial medical tasks (12), comprising one or more medical image acquisition tasks (42) for said medical image acquisition device (2);

- select a medical procedure plan template (10);

- create a medical procedure plan (20) comprising a sequence of medical tasks (22) identical to said initial sequence of said plurality of initial medical tasks (12) from said selected medical procedure plan template (10);

- executing said medical procedure plan (20) by executing said sequence of medical tasks (22),

said medical image acquisition device (2) configured to execute said one or more medical image acquisition tasks (42) during execution of said medical procedure plan (20),

CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said data processing system (1) is further configured to replace said medical procedure plan (20) by a modified medical procedure plan (30), during said creation or said execution of said medical procedure plan (20).

2. A medical imaging workflow management system, according to claim 1 , characterised in that said medical image acquisition task (42) comprises protocol codes comprising parameters (44) for operating said medical image acquisition device (2),

Said data processing system (1) is configured to send said parameters (44) automatically to said medical image acquisition device (2), and in that

Said medical image acquisition device (2) is configured to:

- receive said parameters (44) from said data processing system (1), and

- execute said medical image acquisition tasks (42) with said parameters (44).

3. A medical imaging workflow management system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said modified medical procedure plan (30) comprises at least one modified medical task (32) that differs from said initial medical tasks (22) of said medical procedure plan template (10).

4. A medical imaging workflow management system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said modified medical procedure plan (32) comprises a modified sequence of medical tasks (22) that differs from said initial sequence of medical tasks (12) of said medical procedure plan template (10).

5. A medical imaging workflow management system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said sequence medical tasks (22) of said medical procedure plan (40) further comprises:

- one or more preparatory medical tasks (46) sequenced before said one or more medical image acquisition tasks (42);

- one or more follow-up medical tasks (48) sequenced after said one or more medical image acquisition tasks (42).

6. A medical imaging workflow management system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each of said medical tasks (22) in said medical procedure plan (20) comprises:

- a medical task actor (24) comprising an indicator for the person responsible for execution of said medical task (22);

- a medical task status (26) comprising an indicator for indicating whether said medical task (22) was executed.

7. A medical imaging workflow management system according to claim 6, characterised in that said medical procedure plan (20) comprises a medical procedure plan status (28) for indicating whether the medical procedure plan was executed, said medical procedure plan status (28) indicating said medical procedure plan (20) was executed when the medical task status (26) of all medical tasks of its sequence of medical tasks (22) indicates they were executed.

8. A medical imaging workflow management system according to claim 7, characterised in that said data processing system (1) is further configured to no longer modify said medical procedure plan (20) when said medical procedure plan status (28) indicates said medical procedure plan (20) was executed.

9. A medical imaging workflow management system according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that said data processing system (1) is further configured to create for each of said medical task actors (24) an actor medical task schedule (60) comprising said medical tasks (22) of which the medical task status (26) indicates they are not yet executed.

10. A medical imaging workflow management system according to claim 9, characterised in that said data processing system (1) is further configured to display said medical procedure plan (20) associated with a particular medical task (22) in said actor medical task schedule (60) when said particular medical task (22) is executed or modified by said actor.

11. A method of operating a medical imaging workflow management system according to any of claims 1 to 10.

12. A computer program comprising software code adapted to perform the method of claim 11 when executed by a computing system.

13. A computer readable storage medium comprising the computer program of claim 12.