INTRODUCTION OF AN ULTRASOUND PICTURE ARCHIVING AND COMMUNICATION-SYSTEM - EXPERIENCE IN THE FIRST YEAR

Objective: To describe the authors' first year's experience with a pic ture archiving and communication system (PACS) for the management and storage of ultrasound images and to discuss the financial impact of th e system in terms of costs of purchase, installation and operation. Ma terials and methods: The Toronto Hospital, General Division, performs more than 30 000 ultrasound studies each year, On June 27, 1994, an Ul tra PACS (ALI Technology Incorporated, Richmond, EC) was introduced as the only method of image storage and archiving in the Ultrasound Divi sion. Results: After structural renovations and a detailed work now an alysis, the Ultrasound Division converted from film to the PACS over a single weekend with no back-up. The advantages to date include consis tently high-quality images; rapid image retrieval (images from the sam e day [online], 0 to 45 seconds; archived images [online], 3 to 5 minu tes; images in storage [offline], 3 minutes); no loss of images; more efficient patient through-put, which allows the division to handle the same number of patients in 20% less operational time (change from a 1 0-hour day to an 8-hour day, over a 5-day week); less end-of-day overt ime; and an improved work environment. There has been no change in the division's complement of foil-time equivalent technologists, the numb er of film librarians has been reduced by 1, and physician service tim e has decreased by 20%, There has been no significant impact on overal l operational financial status. Conclusion: The PACS has proved an eff icient method for managing large numbers of ultrasound images in a cos t-effective and technically sound manner, Its installation provides th e basis for meeting the Ultrasound Division's next objective, to elimi nate paper as the primary method of managing patient information and r eports.