PACS Radiology Efficiency
Impact of PACS on Dictation Turnaround Time and Productivity
Abstract
PACS is quite able to increase productivity with an improvement in the efficiency at many levels. It also has a great impact on plain radiography. For the purpose of studying the impact of introducing different technologies in the radiology workflow, auditing the RIS to track interval times between different exam status changes can be a useful tool. Computer and communication have reached to such a state of availability that anyone can acquire the required information. Later, this information can be stored, and distributed to health care workers for supporting their patient care tasks. It works as a quality improver in terms of error reduction and improving efficiency.
Critique
PACS, which stands for picture archive and communication system, is a system in which the staffing and distribution of work is equal during the pre and post PACS periods. In this system it was easy to attribute the change in turn around time. One of the benefits of the PACS implementation in the imaging department was the decrease in the production and distribution of film.
The limitation lies in the fact that it is difficult to analyze the image availability and increased efficiency at work station and difficulty lies in controlling Radiologists' work habits and assiduity. The other controversy is for chest radiographs for which the mean dictation turn around time was found longer, when residents participated in reading process whereas shorter time period was reported for the residents who participated in reading of abdominal CT. This difference of reading is not explained clearly; rather it only assumes that it might be related to the work habits of staff (radiologist). The other criticism is that it only focuses on the part of work flow process i.e. the time interval covered between completing the examination and the end of dictation and this time period can not be ignored as it is important in measuring time interval between examination completions and till the report is available to the clinicians; apart from this, the factor related to the Improved report turnaround times has not been explained, which involves modification of the steps that form the part of transcription and report distribution.
Last but not the least factor is that PACS integrates the IT with domain knowledge; therefore, it is difficult to change the people's way of doing the things. Sometimes, to fulfill the physical layout and the functionality needs becomes difficult. In order to obtain the desired results, sufficient training and education is required. Thus, PACS is suitable for the people who are not risk averse. The major issue in PACS implementation is to check whether the individual has the required skill or not. Sometimes, there is a problem with retrieving of images. Apart from this, there is always a question on its reliability. After examining every patient, Technologists must verify the PACS because the PACS is now serving as the film library, where it take its films to be filed in the film library in a sequential manner. If a staff member does not check the PACS, there is always a kind of discrepancy in patient data, but PACS can generate edited notification form automatically.
Reference
Lepanto, et al. 2006, January. Impact of PACS on Dictation Turnaround Time and Productivity. Journal of Digital Imaging 19(1), 92-97.
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