March is Endometriosis Awareness Month — a time to focus not only on symptom recognition and patient advocacy, but also on the systems that shape how quickly patients move from suspicion to diagnosis to treatment. 

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 reproductive-age women. Yet diagnostic delays commonly span years. The reasons are complex: variable symptoms, normalization of pain, access barriers, and evolving clinical understanding. Another contributor is less visible, but highly operational — inconsistency in imaging evaluation and reporting. 

For OB-GYN directors overseeing multi-site practices, imaging is not a peripheral function. It is a decision driver. Ultrasound findings influence referral patterns, surgical planning, fertility strategy, and longitudinal management. When reporting is inconsistent, incomplete, or slow, the downstream effects accumulate. 

In this context, three themes matter together: variability, transitions, and time. 

Variability in ultrasound reporting creates clinical uncertainty 

Endometriosis is not a single finding. It can involve the ovaries, uterosacral ligaments, posterior compartment, bladder, bowel, and more. Detection requires a systematic, protocol-driven exam and clear documentation of what was evaluated — not just what was found. 

In practice, variability shows up in several ways: 

• Free-text reports that differ in structure between providers 
• Omission of specific anatomical regions 
• Inconsistent terminology describing similar findings 
• Limited documentation of negative findings, leaving uncertainty about whether areas were assessed 

For OB-GYN providers, this variability affects more than documentation. It influences referral decisions and surgical confidence. A surgeon planning excision of deep infiltrating endometriosis needs clarity on lesion size, depth, and anatomical relationships. A fertility specialist needs reliable documentation of ovarian involvement. Ambiguity can mean repeat imaging, additional consults, or delayed action. 

Standardized ultrasound reporting reduces that ambiguity. 

When structured templates guide evaluation of known endometriosis sites and require documentation of key elements, variability decreases. Critical regions are less likely to be skipped. Terminology aligns across providers. Negative findings are explicitly captured, reducing interpretive gaps. 

The goal is not rigidity, but rather, reliability – ensuring that every patient receives a systematic evaluation regardless of which sonographer or interpreting clinician performs the exam. 

The in-between moments of endometriosis care are vulnerable 

Endometriosis care often spans multiple settings. A patient may have imaging at one site, consult with a general OB-GYN, see a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon, and later involve fertility specialists or pelvic floor therapy. Each transition is a handoff. 

Handoffs are where information gaps become operational risk. 

When reports are difficult to interpret, slow to finalize, or inconsistent in structure, the burden shifts to phone calls, clarifications, and re-review of images. These steps consume time and introduce opportunities for miscommunication. In high-volume practices, even small inefficiencies compound. 

From a systems perspective, ultrasound reporting sits directly in the pathway between suspicion and action. 

Clear, structured reports strengthen that bridge by: 

• Presenting findings in a predictable format 
• Using standardized clinical terminology 
• Capturing measurements and anatomical context relevant to surgical planning 
• Supporting reliable distribution so the right clinician can act without delay 

For OB-GYN directors, this is a coordination issue as much as a diagnostic one. The quality of the report shapes how confidently the next clinician can move forward. 

Operational reliability in reporting supports clinical confidence in decision-making. 

Time to diagnosis is influenced by workflow 

The often-cited multi-year delay in endometriosis diagnosis is multifactorial. Imaging alone cannot eliminate it. But inefficient workflows can extend it. 

Delays can occur when: 

• Reports require extensive dictation and manual editing 
• Key data points are re-entered across systems 
• Clarifications are needed due to incomplete documentation 
• Repeat imaging is ordered because prior reports lacked sufficient detail 

Speed in this context does not mean rushing. It means reducing unnecessary friction. 

When ultrasound reporting workflows are designed with structured fields, aligned templates, and streamlined data entry, clinicians can complete comprehensive reports more efficiently. Fewer manual steps reduce the likelihood of transcription errors. Faster report finalization improves time to referral and treatment planning. 

For OB-GYN leaders balancing quality, access, and operational performance, “speed is safety” applies here as well. Earlier clarity supports earlier intervention. 

Standardization supports both care and quality improvement 

Endometriosis Awareness Month highlights patient experience and symptom validation. It also invites practices to evaluate internal systems. 

Structured, standardized reporting creates benefits beyond the individual encounter: 

• Consistent data capture enables quality audits 
• Practices can assess adherence to pelvic evaluation protocols 
• Discrete data fields support population-level analysis 
• Multi-site organizations can align on shared documentation standards 

For directors overseeing multiple locations or growing service lines, standardization strengthens governance. It reduces practice-level variability and supports training consistency. It also positions the organization to participate in research initiatives or internal outcome tracking with greater confidence. 

Data that are structured are data that can be measured. 

A practical step during Endometriosis Awareness Month

AS Software’s approach to ultrasound reporting is designed to support systematic evaluation, standardized terminology, and efficient workflow. By embedding structured templates into daily practice, ultrasound teams can document endometriosis-related findings comprehensively and consistently. 

For OB-GYN directors, the impact is practical: 

• Reduced variability across providers and sites 
• Clearer communication for surgical and fertility planning 
• Fewer repeat studies driven by incomplete documentation 
• Faster, more reliable movement from imaging to clinical action 

Endometriosis care depends on listening to patients, applying evidence-based protocols, and coordinating across specialties. It also depends on information systems that make those steps repeatable under real-world conditions. 

Endometriosis Awareness Month is an opportunity to strengthen not only recognition of the disease, but the diagnostic pathway itself. Reliable, standardized ultrasound reporting is one place where operational improvement directly supports clinical progress. 

Improving the pathway from imaging to action is not a marketing objective. It is a systems-level contribution to better women’s health. 

References 

• World Health Organization. “Endometriosis.” WHO Fact Sheet, 2023. 
• Zondervan KT, Becker CM, Missmer SA. “Endometriosis.” New England Journal of Medicine. 2020;382:1244–1256. 
• As-Sanie S, Black R, Giudice LC, et al. “Assessing Research Gaps and Unmet Needs in Endometriosis.” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019;221(2):86–94. 
• Hudelist G, English J, Thomas AE, et al. “Diagnostic Accuracy of Transvaginal Ultrasound for Non-invasive Diagnosis of Bowel Endometriosis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;37(3):257–263. 
• Guerriero S, Condous G, van den Bosch T, et al. “Systematic Approach to Sonographic Evaluation of the Pelvis in Women with Suspected Endometriosis, Including Terms, Definitions, and Measurements.” Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2016;48(3):318–332. 
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). “Management of Endometriosis.” Practice Bulletin No. 114 (Reaffirmed). 
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January 23^rd is Maternal Health Awareness Day – an important moment to focus on outcomes, access, and respectful care. In maternal care, risk is not limited to physiology. Risk is also created when critical information is delayed, incomplete, or difficult to act on.

The U.S. maternal mortality rate remains high, and disparities are substantial (CDC). The statistics reflect many drivers, including clinical complexity, access, and social factors. They also underscore the need for reliable systems that support coordinated care across settings and across teams. 

For ultrasound practices and the clinicians who rely on ultrasound data, this is where this year’s theme “Holding Ground on Maternal Health” becomes practical. Holding ground includes building processes that keep care consistent even when teams are busy, and care spans multiple sites.  

In this context, three themes matter together: information gaps, the in-between moments of care, and the relationship between speed and safety. 

Information gaps are a real patient safety problem 

Information gaps often show up as missed follow-up, unclear responsibility, or reports that do not communicate what the next clinician needs.  

The Joint Commission summarizes evidence showing that test results are sometimes not followed up at meaningful rates, with systematic review ranges of 6.8% to 62% for laboratory tests and 1.0% to 35.7% for radiology (Joint Commission Digital Assets). In the same publication, the Joint Commission describes closed-loop communication as essential; meaning results are sent, received, acknowledged, and acted upon without failure.

Maternal care has many decision points where an ultrasound finding influences next steps. These can include follow-up imaging, escalation to maternal-fetal medicine, changes in monitoring frequency, and delivery planning.  

When ultrasound reporting is fragmented or inconsistent, the gap is rarely visible in a single moment. Instead, it accumulates across visits and across handoffs. A reporting system cannot solve every cause of missed follow-up, but it can reduce common sources of ambiguity. 

Structured reports that clearly present findings, clinical context, and recommended follow-up improve the likelihood that downstream clinicians interpret results consistently. This is part of how practices protect hard-won progress. The goal is reliable understanding, not simply documentation. 

The in-between moments of care are where gaps become harm 

Many maternal care failures occur during transitions. A patient has an ultrasound at one site, sees a different clinician for prenatal care, and delivers at another facility. Even within a single organization, responsibility shifts between sonographers, interpreting clinicians, referring providers, and care coordinators. These are the in-between moments, and they are vulnerable. 

Communication failures are a frequent contributor to harm, and handoffs are a central part of that problem. The Joint Commission reports that an estimated 67% of communication errors relate to handoffs, defined as the time when patient care responsibility transitions from one provider to another. Ultrasound reporting sits directly in that handoff pathway.  

When reports are hard to locate, slow to finalize, or inconsistent in structure, the bridge weakens. In practice, the risk can look like delayed follow-up on a finding, duplicate imaging, avoidable phone calls and clarifications, or uncertainty about who owns the next step. Those outcomes are not abstract. They take time away from patient-facing care, and they can delay clinically important decisions. 

Holding ground means designing workflows that make the correct next action easier. From the perspective of an ultrasound reporting platform, this often includes: 

• Standardized clinical terminology and report structure that reduces interpretive variability 
• Clear capture of key maternal and fetal measurements and relevant clinical context 
• Reliable distribution and access so the right clinician can act without delay 
• Traceability that supports auditing and quality improvement 

These capabilities are operational, but their effect is clinical. They keep care coordinated in the moments between visits and between teams. 

Speed is safety when time drives decisions 

In maternal care, there are many situations where time influences outcomes, both directly and indirectly. A delay in identifying a concerning trend can delay referral. A delay in confirming a normal result can prolong anxiety, lead to avoidable repeat testing, or slow routine planning. A delay in communicating an actionable finding can postpone intervention. 

Speed in reporting should not mean rushed or low-quality. It should mean that teams can complete accurate reports efficiently, without unnecessary manual steps, duplicated data entry, or avoidable back-and-forth.  

For ultrasound practices, “speed is safety” often comes down to practical workflow design: 

• Templates that align with practice standards so key elements are not omitted 
• Structured fields that reduce rework and support consistency across providers 
• Fewer clicks and fewer hand-transcribed values, reducing error opportunities 
• Faster report finalization and distribution, improving time to action 

When speed, clarity, and continuity improve together, the system is more resilient. This matters in high-volume environments and in settings where care is distributed across multiple organizations. 

A practical way to “hold ground” in maternal health 

Maternal health progress depends on clinical excellence and on systems that make excellence repeatable.  

AS Software’s focus on simplifying ultrasound reporting is aligned with this kind of progress. Standardized, coordinated, and efficient reporting supports care teams by reducing information gaps and strengthening the in-between moments where responsibility shifts. In a field where timelines are tight and decisions are interconnected; operational reliability is a form of patient safety. 

Maternal Health Awareness Day is an opportunity to recommit to respectful, evidence-based care. It is also an opportunity to invest in the infrastructure that makes that care consistent across patients and across settings. Holding ground includes holding the line on communication, follow-up, and timely action. 

References

• CDC National Center for Health Statistics, “Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2023.” CDC 
• The Joint Commission, Quick Safety Issue 52, “Advancing Safety with Closed-loop Communication of Test Results” (systematic review ranges for lack of follow-up; definition and importance of closed-loop communication; delayed communication risks). Joint Commission Digital Assets 
• The Joint Commission Knowledge Library, “Reducing Handoff Communication Failures and Inequities in Healthcare” (estimated 67% of communication errors relate to handoffs). The Joint Commission