Luigi Lepanto1, Guy Paré, Alain Gauvin. 1. Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, 1058 St-Denis Street, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2X 3J4. luigi.lepanto@umontreal.ca
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to measure the impact of a picture archive and communication system (PACS) on dictation turnaround time of chest radiographs in a multisite hospital and relate variations across sites to local factors and implementation strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The multisite hospital is composed of three sites. Dictation turnaround time was calculated by using data obtained from the radiology information system for examinations performed during three 90-day periods (immediately before PACS implementation, immediately after PACS implementation, and 1 year after implementation). Productivity, expressed as number of examinations dictated per full-time-equivalent radiologist, also was calculated. For each 3-month period, average interval delay was calculated. Values for average interval delay obtained during the different pre- and post-PACS periods were compared by using analysis of variance. This was done for each hospital. RESULTS: In the immediate post-PACS period at site 1, dictation turnaround time decreased 5% (P < .05), whereas productivity decreased 16.5%. The implementation strategy was revised for the next two sites, and dictation turnaround time decreased 21% (P < .001) in both sites in the immediate post-PACS period. Productivity increased 2% and 3% in these sites. One year after implementation, decreases in turnaround ranged from 28% to 55% (P < .001) in the three sites. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that PACSs cannot be isolated from their contexts; therefore, implementation strategy matters in the realization of projected benefits. In addition, regardless of differences in film-based environments before PACS, all three sites benefited from conversion to filmless operation, with the greatest benefits seen in the site that was least efficient before implementation.
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to measure the impact of a picture archive and communication system (PACS) on dictation turnaround time of chest radiographs in a multisite hospital and relate variations across sites to local factors and implementation strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The multisite hospital is composed of three sites. Dictation turnaround time was calculated by using data obtained from the radiology information system for examinations performed during three 90-day periods (immediately before PACS implementation, immediately after PACS implementation, and 1 year after implementation). Productivity, expressed as number of examinations dictated per full-time-equivalent radiologist, also was calculated. For each 3-month period, average interval delay was calculated. Values for average interval delay obtained during the different pre- and post-PACS periods were compared by using analysis of variance. This was done for each hospital. RESULTS: In the immediate post-PACS period at site 1, dictation turnaround time decreased 5% (P < .05), whereas productivity decreased 16.5%. The implementation strategy was revised for the next two sites, and dictation turnaround time decreased 21% (P < .001) in both sites in the immediate post-PACS period. Productivity increased 2% and 3% in these sites. One year after implementation, decreases in turnaround ranged from 28% to 55% (P < .001) in the three sites. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that PACSs cannot be isolated from their contexts; therefore, implementation strategy matters in the realization of projected benefits. In addition, regardless of differences in film-based environments before PACS, all three sites benefited from conversion to filmless operation, with the greatest benefits seen in the site that was least efficient before implementation.
Authors: T Seithe; M de Bucourt; T Seithe; R Busse; M Rief; R Doyscher; L Albrecht; H Rathke; M Jonczyk; R Poschmann; H Tepe; B Hamm Journal: Radiologe Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 0.635
Authors: Mary Pritzlaff; Arielle Yorczyk; Linda S Robinson; Sara Pirzadeh-Miller; Tirun Lin; David Euhus; Theodora S Ross Journal: J Genet Couns Date: 2014-06-12 Impact factor: 2.537