[PACS: acceptance by orthopedic surgeons]

Clinicians' perspective of picture archiving and communication systems at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital

Background

Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are now an established means of capturing, storing, distribution and viewing of all radiology images. The study was conducted in a quaternary hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), part of the University of the Witwatersrand teaching circuit, in South Africa.

Objectives

To measure the clinicians' perceived benefits and challenges of PACS. To document perceived views on how the current PACS can be improved.

Method

This was a cross-sectional observational study over a period of 5 months from September 2021 to January 2022 carried out at CMJAH. Questionnaires were distributed to referring clinicians with PACS experience. Descriptive statistics was conducted. Categorical variables were presented as frequency and percentages. The continuous variables were presented as means ± standard deviation.

Results

A survey with a response rate of 54% found the benefits most reported by clinicians were improved patient care, less time needed to review an exam, improved image comparison and consultation efficiency. With respect to perceived challenges, the unavailability of images at the bedside, problems with access and the lack of advanced image manipulating software were noted. The most frequent recommendations on improvements focused on the aforementioned challenges.

Conclusion

Hospital-wide PACS was viewed beneficial by most clinicians. Nonetheless, there are a few aspects that deserve attention to improve the functionality and access of the system.

Contribution

The findings will assist in future hospital or provincial-wide PACS deployment projects.

[Digital X-ray: interhospital data transfer by CD-ROM. Prospective data evaluation during the import process]

BACKGROUND

Increasing numbers of radiological imaging diagnostics are archived in digital form. In addition to the results of diagnostics performed in hospital a growing number of patients present with digital results of outpatient radiological investigations. These digitized images represent a challenge for the internal hospital work flow. The aim of the study was to determine the expenditure for the hospital when dealing with digital outpatient diagnostic results.

METHOD

Several parameters were observed and analyzed within the import process of nearly 400 CD-ROMs over a time period of 5 months. Only a negligible number of data on CD-ROMs could not be transferred into the hospital archive (1.5%). The duration of the process depended on the amount of data and the time period.

RESULTS

During regular hours the import process took on average 13 min per CD and 19 min per patient while the time increased significantly during on-call duties. This study demonstrates the significance of the import of digital outpatient radiological diagnostic results into the hospital archive which can in particular influence patient treatment.