The Internet as a medium of training for picture archival and communication systems (PACS) (original) (raw)
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Academic Radiology, 2012
The availability of the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) has revolutionized the practice of radiology in the past two decades and has shown to eventually increase productivity in radiology and medicine. PACS implementation and integration may bring along numerous unexpected issues, particularly in a large-scale enterprise. To achieve a successful PACS implementation, identifying the critical success and failure factors is essential. This article provides an overview of the process of implementing and integrating PACS in a comprehensive health system comprising an academic core hospital and numerous community hospitals. Important issues are addressed, touching all stages from planning to operation and training. The impact of an enterprise-wide radiology information system and PACS at the academic medical center (four specialty hospitals), in six additional community hospitals, and in all associated outpatient clinics as well as the implications on the productivity and efficiency of the entire enterprise are presented.
Journal of Health Management & Information Science, 2017
Introduction: Today the use of information technology in accordance with the rapid environmental changes and flexibility acquisition is necessary and unavoidable. Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is one of the medical information technology used in health facilities. PACS provides the images archive and transmission possibility electronically in different units of the teaching and treatment centers. This study aimed to assess the PACS system in teaching hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences based on a survey of Canadian Infoway. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 53 individuals selected through Two-Stage Stratified Random Sampling. The study population consisted of 156 PACS users in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences hospitals which were equipped with the PACS system in 2015. Data were collected by the valid and reliable customized questionnaire of Canadian Infoway. The reliability was measured by a pilot study on 25 PACS users; Cronbach's Alpha was estimated 0.78. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18. Also, frequency, mean, standard deviation were used. Results: The results are presented in three sections: environment (Background Variables), benefits and challenges of PACS. As to the system availability, 20.8% of the users in the clinic, 75.5% in the diagnostic imaging department, only 3.8% in offices had access to the PACS. As to system accessibility, 49.1% of the users just had access to tests, 5.7% only to the reports, and 45.3% to both reports and tests. With respect to benefits of PACS, the mean was 4.16 (SD: 0.5) (five-point scale 1-5) estimated, and in challenges, the mean was 3.48(SD: 0.5) (five-point scale 1-5). Conclusion: The results showed that although PACS could eliminate many restrictions concerning the use of radiology images and films, there were challenges in this regard. Users are recommended to have access to PACS in all clinics, physicians' offices, and diagnostic imaging department. The majority of users agreed with the PACS benefits. Adequate management measures must be taken to maximize the benefits derived from this system and the utilization of information in order to improve the quality of care. Adequate training and elimination of the deficiencies could affect the use of this system and improvement in the health care services.
Journal of Digital Imaging, 1993
In this report we present an integrated picture archiving and communication system (PACS)-radiology information system (RIS) which runs as part of the daily routine in the Department of Radiology at the University of Graz. Although the PACS and the RiS have been developed independently, the two systems are interfaced to ensure a unified and consistent Iong-term archive. The configuration connects four computer tomography scanners (one of them situated at a distance of 1 km), a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, a digital subtraction angiography unit, an evaluation console, a diagnostic console, an image display console, an archive with two optical disk drives, and several RIS terminals. The configuration allows the routine archiving of all examinations on optical disks independent of reporting. The management of the optical disks is performed by the RIS. Images can be selected for retrieval vŸ the RIS by using patient identification or medical criteria. A special software process (PACS-MONITOR) enables the user to survey and manage image communication, archiving, and retrieval as well as to get information about the status of the system at any time and handle the different procedures in the PACS. The system is active 24 hours a day. To make the PACS operation as independent as possible from the permanent presence of a system manager (electronic data processing expert), a rule-based expert system (OPERAS; OPERating ASsistant) is in use to Iocalize and eliminate malfunctions that occur during routine work. The PACS-RIS reduces labor and speeds access to images within radiology and clinical departments.
JMIR Medical Informatics, 2016
Background: Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is a well-known imaging informatics application in health care organizations, specifically designed for the radiology department. Health care providers have exhibited willingness toward evaluating PACS in hospitals to ascertain the critical success and failure of the technology, considering that evaluation is a basic requirement. Objective: This study aimed at evaluating the success of a PACS in a regional teaching hospital of Kuwait, from users' perspectives, using information systems success criteria. Methods: An in-depth study was conducted by using quantitative and qualitative methods. This mixed-method study was based on: (1) questionnaires, distributed to all radiologists and technologists and (2) interviews, conducted with PACS administrators. Results: In all, 60 questionnaires were received from the respondents. These included 39 radiologists (75% response rate) and 21 technologists (62% response rate), with the results showing almost three-quarters (74%, 44 of 59) of the respondents rating PACS positively and as user friendly. This study's findings revealed that the demographic data, including computer experience, was an insignificant factor, having no influence on the users' responses. The findings were further substantiated by the administrators' interview responses, which supported the benefits of PACS, indicating the need for developing a unified policy aimed at streamlining and improving the departmental workflow. Conclusions: The PACS had a positive and productive impact on the radiologists' and technologists' work performance. They were endeavoring to resolve current problems while keeping abreast of advances in PACS technology, including teleradiology and mobile image viewer, which is steadily increasing in usage in the Kuwaiti health system.
Research and teaching access to a large clinical picture archiving and communication system
Journal of Digital Imaging, 2001
Purpose: To identify practical issues surrounding delivering digital images from picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) for research and teaching purposes. The complexity of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) access methods, security, patient confidentiality, PACS database integrity, portability, and scalability are discussed. A software prototype designed to resolve these issues is described.System Architecture: A six-component, three-tier, client server software application program supporting DICOM query/retrieve services was developed in the JAWA language. This software was interfaced to a large GE (Mt Prospect, IL) Medical Systems clinical PACS at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH).Conclusion: Images can be delivered from a clinical PACS for research and teaching purposes. Concerns for security, patient confidentiality, integrity of the PACS database, and management of the transactions can be addressed. The described software is one such solution for achieving this goal.
Objectives: Meaningful use of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) can change the workflow for accessing digital images, lead to faster turnaround time, reduce tests and examinations, and increase patient throughput. This study was carried out to identify determinant factors that affect the adoption of PACS by physicians. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 190 physicians working in a teaching hospital affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. Physicians' perceptions concerning the adoption of PACS were assessed by the conceptual path model of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Collected data were analyzed with regression analysis. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the final model that was developed. Results: The results show that the UTAUT model can explain about 61 percent of the variance on in the adoption of PACS (R 2 = 0.61). The findings also showed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influences, and behavior intention have a direct and significant effect on the adoption of PACS. However, facility condition showed to have no significant effect on physicians' behavior intentions. Conclusions: Implementation of new technology such as PACS in the healthcare sector is unavoidable. Our study clearly identified significant and nonsignificant factors that may affect the adoption of PACS. Also, this study acknowledged that physicians' perception is a key factor to manage the implementation of PACS optimally, and this fact should be considered by healthcare managers and policy makers.
Evaluation of a Radiology Picture Archiving and Communication System Laboratory Exercise
2006
This paper presents the pilot evaluation of a laboratory classroom simulation of radiology networking technology. The simulation focused on educating undergraduate students in applying radiology Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) in a networked environment, based on the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard. The laboratory exercise structure enables students to simulate the operation of radiology departments in terms of DICOM communication with imaging devices, storing and retrieving images, as well as viewing and processing them. The evaluation was applied to a group of students implementing an exercise and results, as provided by filling a questionnaire indicate the overall positive attitude of students in using such tools in the educational process, especially concerning the motivation of students for active participation in the exercises and incitation for further reading of theoretical material related to the course.
Picture archiving and communication system: prospective study
Hong Kong Medical Journal Xianggang Yi Xue Za Zhi Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, 2002
Objectives. To evaluate the use of a picture archiving and communication system and user satisfaction in order to further improve its quality. Design. Prospective study. Setting. Medical college hospital, Japan. Materials and methods. An automated computerised method was used to collect the data from March 1999 to February 2000. Main outcome measures. Each workstation automatically recorded data on the rank of the user, purpose of use, use of postprocessing tools, and user satisfaction. Results. The number of resident users in the radiology reading room increased and those outside the reading room decreased, but the number of staff users changed little. The purpose of use and the use of postprocessing functions in the reading room were not significantly different from those outside it (P=0.179 and P=0.269, respectively). The average numbers of images accessed per workstation monthly in the reading room, the general practice ward, and the gastroenterology ward were 1081, 970, and 741, respectively. Only 12 images in the orthopaedic surgery out-patient clinic and 70 images in the orthopaedic surgery ward, however, were accessed per month. The percentages of satisfied users decreased both inside and outside the reading room. The degree of satisfaction of users in the reading room was significantly different from that outside it (P=0.004). The most common reason for dissatisfaction was the length of time necessary to retrieve images. Conclusions. It is necessary to shorten response times of picture archiving and communication system workstations.
Journal of Digital Imaging, 1996
Physicians practicing at the "filmless'" Baltimore VA Medical Center need to be proficient in the use of the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) to be able to view radiologic images and accompanying reports. PACS training is necessary to assure optimal patient care and to satisfy potential medicolegal requirements. Providing such training is the responsibility of both the Imaging Department and the hospital. Training in the use of the PACS at the Baltimore VA is conducted by an on-site application specialist. Data were collected from interviews with the trainer, training Iog sheets, and physician surveys. Although 100% of radiologists received formal training, only 22% of nonradiologists were formally trained; 32% of these physicians identified themselves as having been trained by their peers and 41% stated they were self-trained. We identified two goals of a PACS training program. The first is to teach physicians how to retrieve images and reports from current as well as prior studies and display them on a computer workstation. Secondly, the training should include instruction on the use of the various workstation tools to enhance image interpretation. Imaging requirements and usage by different physician groups vary, and PACS training should be tailored accordingly. Difficulties in the scheduling of training sessions during working hours and the widespread use of a "generic" Iog-on identification have contributed to the Iow (22%) compliance of nonradiologists with the formal training program. Although we believe that one-on-one training is most effective and can be best tailored to the needs and computer expertise of an individual particular physician, computer based training (both on and off-line) may provide ah acceptable, and in some cases, a preferred alternative.
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 1998
In order to make rational decisions for further implementation of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) in Viennese community hospitals, an assessment of the Sozialmedizinisches Zentrum Ost (SMZO) project was launched by the Viennese community hospital financing body. The aim of the technology assessment was to look at the experiences of day-to-day practice, organizational aspects of, and obstacles to developing the full potential of the PACS installation. The study analyzes the conditions for employment of digital radiology, gathers the experiences of national and international projects, and presents a view on critical points, from which options for further implementation can be derived. In the center of interest stood work organization, handling and user attitudes, perceptions of radiologists and clinicians, realism of expectations regarding economic efficiency, technical aspects, and influence of quality of medical care.