Saving time, improving satisfaction: the impact of a digital radiology system on physician workflow and system efficiency.

The objective of the study was to assess UC Davis Health System's transition to digital radiology. The study involved pre- and post-PACS analyses of workflow and costs, physician satisfaction surveys, and self-recorded radiology interactions by on-call residents. The study revealed significant results. Before the PACS implementation, physicians spent one to three hours searching for films daily and were dissatisfied with radiology services. After implementation, images were readily available, physicians were more likely to view and interpret images themselves, and they reported increased satisfaction. From real-time reporting, residents viewed studies with radiologists 90.2 percent less often. Average image search time decreased, from 16 to 2 minutes, saving 21.5 physician years, worth dollar 1,034,150 annually. Reductions in film printing (73.4 percent) and file clerk full-time equivalents (50.3 percent) saved dollar 1,001,452 annually, and freed up 1,218 hospital and 8,108 warehouse square feet, worth dollar 2,018,320. As a result, UCDHS's digital radiology system improved clinician satisfaction and workflow, increased clinician image viewing, and decreased clinician engagement with radiologists. System implementation saved 21 physician years and dollar 2 million annually.