Implementation and day-to-day usage of a client-server-based radiology information system

Implementation of a second-generation radiology information system (RIS) re quires attention to many issues, including work flow, system design, traini ng, consideration for emerging technologies, and support. This presentation covers the issues, and solutions, involved in implementation and subsequen t day-to-day usage of a client-server-based RIS tightly integrated with a h ospital information system (HIS) using "thin client" software to limit hard ware requirements for the client computers. The software and hardware imple mentation had to be designed for potential enterprise-wide scalability of t he RIS for a system involving 11 hospitals. Issues arose regarding initial increased turnaround times, errors in importation of historical data, and p roblems with implementation of interfaces between the RIS and the billing s ystem and between the RIS and the digital dictation system. Network errors and difficulties in using a thin client implementation had to be overcome. Hierarchical training was implemented, as support was switched from an "on- site" support group to a central Information System Division with responsib ility to the entire enterprise. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company .