Reading Protocols Quick Start

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I want to select a different reading protocol…

I want to save a reading protocol…

I want to organize reading protocol steps…

I want to create a DICOM rule card…

I want to understand the hierarchy of reading protocols…

How to print this QSG

Selecting a Different Reading Protocol

Select a different reading protocol from the Reading Protocols (RP) drop-down list in the toolbar. While dynamic reading protocols are always available in the Reading Protocols drop-down list, only reading protocols that meet certain match criteria, such as modality or series descriptions for the modality, are available in the Reading Protocols drop-down list.

Synapse allows you to switch between reading protocols while a study is loaded and remembers the last RP step when switching back to a reading protocol that was previously viewed for the current study.

  1. Double-click to open a study from the Worklist. In the Viewer, the default reading protocol displays the study.

  2. Select a different option from the Reading Protocols drop-down list:

  • Dynamic US - Group by Stage

  • Dynamic US - Group by View

  1. If you want to update or save a reading protocol, do any of the following:

  • Select Save New Reading Protocol to save a RP that you have updated.

  • Select Edit Reading Protocol to edit an existing RP.

  • Select Dynamic Settings to update user settings for a dynamic RP.

Read More About It!

Check out the complete Selecting a Different Reading Protocol topic in the Users Guide for more options.

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Saving a Reading Protocol

When you save a reading protocol, Synapse saves the reading protocol match criteria and the viewport properties. For example, if you have hidden text overlays and you have saved the reading protocol, when Synapse displays a study using that reading protocol, the text overlays do not initially display. You can save two types of reading protocols with different match criteria: Procedure or Modality.

  1. In the Viewer, arrange the series as you want.

  2. From the Reading Protocols drop-down list, select Save New Reading Protocol.

  3. In the Save Reading Protocol dialog box, Synapse automatically generates a name for the reading protocol and appends the current user name.

  4. Change the name in the text box to the name of your choice.

  5. Optional: Add a description in the Description text box.

  6. The options for Type depend on modality. (MG can be tricky. Check out the full Saving Reading Protocols topic for more information.)

  7. To finish up, do one of the following:

  • Click Edit Reading Protocol if you need to make additional changes using the RP Editor.

  • Click Save to save the RP and return to the Viewer.

  • Click Cancel to return to the Viewer without saving your work.

Read More About It!

Check out the complete Saving a Reading Protocol topic in the Users Guide for more options.

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Organizing Reading Protocols

Depending on the reading protocol, Synapse might display multiple reading protocol steps. You can add, rename, delete, or organize the reading protocol steps. You can also loop back to the first reading protocol using the Loop reading protocol steps setting.

  1. Click the Reading Protocol step drop-down list located on the Viewer toolbar. This list contains the reading protocol steps for the selected study.
  2. Select Organize Steps. A dialog box displays.
  3. Select a reading protocol step and do any of the following: (For a comprehensive list of options, head to the Users Guide.)

  • Select the Autogen check box generate additional steps for an MG study.

  • Select the Automatically create steps check box generate additional steps for all other modalities.

  • Select the Reset Series Display Status button to display the same series in multiple steps.

  • Select the Continue Series Display Status from previous step button to display all series in multiple steps.

  • Right-click the selected reading protocol step and select to cop, rename or delete a step.

  1. Click Update.

  2. Save the reading protocol to save your reading protocol steps.

Read More About It!

Check out the complete Organizing RP Steps topic in the Users Guide for more options.

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Creating DICOM RP Rule Cards Using the Reading Protocol Editor

A DICOM reading protocol (RP) rule card is comprised of a set of DICOM property rules. You can create multiple DICOM RP rule cards for a reading protocol in the Viewer or in the Reading Protocol Editor. As new rule cards are added, Synapse dynamically updates the viewport rule hierarchy. However, you can also drag and drop rule cards within a viewport to change their order.

  1. Select Edit Reading Protocol from the RP drop-down list.

  2. Click Add New Rule.

  3. Click the appropriate icon to complete any of the following applicable steps. Check out the full Using the RPE to Create DICOM RP Rule Cards topic for a comprehensive list.

  • Expand All to view all the rule cards within a group.

  • Collapse All to collapse all rule cards within a group.

  • Remove Rule to remove a rule card.

  • Remove All Rule Cards to remove all rule cards. When you remove all cards, a new card remains with the Type as Empty.

  • Plus to add a property value from a rule card.

  • Minus to remove a property value from a rule card. (If the Minus icon is grayed out, you cannot remove the only DICOM property in the rule card.)

Read More About It!

Check out the complete Creating Additional DICOM RP Rule Cards topic in the Users Guide for more options.

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Reading Protocol Hierarchy

Synapse groups reading protocols from the most specific matching criteria to the least specific criteria matching criteria:

  1. Series-based reading protocols
  2. Procedure-based reading protocols
  3. Modality-based reading protocols
  4. Generic reading protocols

When Synapse selects reading protocols for a study, Synapse displays the list of grouped reading protocols in the Reading Protocols drop-down list.

Default Reading Protocol Hierarchy

Prioritize your reading protocols by selecting a default reading protocol. You can select more than one default reading protocol (one per reading protocol type).

Synapse automatically updates the default reading protocol with a Last Modified Timestamp, displaying the default reading protocol at the top of its group. For example, a default modality reading protocol displays first within the modality-based reading protocols group.

Grouping Reading Protocols

Synapse groups reading protocols using the following hierarchy:

  1. Default series-based reading protocols
  2. Series-based reading protocols
  3. Default procedure-based reading protocols
  4. Procedure-based reading protocols
  5. Default modality-based reading protocols
  6. Modality reading protocols
  7. Generic reading protocols

Read More About It!

Check out the complete Reading Protocol Hierarchy topic in the Users Guide for more options.

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