Cost analysis of Turku University Central Hospital PACS in 1998

Introduction of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) into an old hospital poses several problems since the system cannot be implemented instantaneously. We analysed the costs of a halfway implemented PACS in Tu rku University Central Hospital (TUCH) during 1998. Manual and digital arch iving in 1998 continued parallel so that only 10% reduction of film usage w as achieved. A 21% increase in image manipulation and storage expenses occu rred. A calculation based on potential 90% reduction of film usage and chan ges in the amount of personnel suggest some direct savings. Also, indirect savings due to more efficient patient treatment and the reduction of time s pent in the hospital, and overhead costs of information handling are expect ed to lead to savings. However, these savings were not included in our calc ulations. When full-scale PACS is installed, equipment investments, network and digital ware maintenance costs will drop from 121 to 116% compared wit h traditional film archiving activity costs. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Irel and Ltd. All rights reserved.