RADIOLOGY REPORT TIMES - IMPACT OF PICTURE ARCHIVING AND COMMUNICATION-SYSTEMS

OBJECTIVE. We investigated the impact on radiologist reporting time of the change from conventional film to hard-copy computerized radiograp hy and of the subsequent move to soft-copy images on picture archiving and communication system (PACS) workstations. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A controlled before and after research design was undertaken. Data wer e collected on four occasions: two relating to conventional film, one relating to hard-copy computerized radiography, and one relating to so ft-copy PACS images, Data collection was by direct observation of radi ology reporting sessions by independent health service researchers. Da ta were collected on report times, details of images viewed, character istics of the radiologist, and details of interruptions. To control fo r potential biases in the before and after comparisons, ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis was used. The principal comparis on was between reports with PACS and reports with computerized radiogr aphy hard-copy because no change was noted in the organization of the reporting process between these two data collection rounds other than the introduction of the PACS. RESULTS. Data were collected on a total of 5568 report observations. Report time in the PACS data collection p eriod was not significantly different (p = .32) than that in the compu terized radiography hard-copy period. Reporting with the PACS was asso ciated with significantly more (p < .01) historical images (i.e., imag es of the same patient obtained in previous examinations) being viewed . CONCLUSION. Report time was not lengthened by the introduction of th e PACS. The finding that more historical images were viewed when the P ACS was in use indicates that the PACS brought about a positive change in reporting practice.