Document Detail


Effect of filmless imaging on the utilization of radiologic services.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10751482     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: To determine the effect of a large-scale picture archiving and communication system (PACS) on in- and outpatient utilization of radiologic services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center (BVAMC) before and after implementation of an enterprise-wide PACS; the numbers and types of imaging examinations performed for fiscal years 1993 and 1996 were evaluated. These data were compared with those from a similar academic medical center, the Philadelphia VA Medical Center (PVAMC), and with aggregate data obtained nationally for all VA hospitals over comparable periods. RESULTS: Inpatient utilization, defined as the number of examinations per inpatient day, increased by 82% (from 0.265 to 0.483 examinations per patient day) after a transition to filmless operation at BVAMC. This is substantially greater than the increases of 38% (from 0.263 to 0.362 examinations per patient day) and 11% (from 0.190 to 0.211 examinations per patient day) at the film-based PVAMC and nationally, respectively. Outpatient utilization, defined as the number of examinations per visit, increased by 21% (from 0.108 to 0.131 examinations per visit) at BVAMC, compared with a 1% increase (from 0.087 to 0.088 examinations per visit) at PVAMC and a net decrease of 19% (from 0. 148 to 0.120 examinations per visit) nationally. CONCLUSION: The transition to filmless operation was associated with increases in inpatient and outpatient utilization of radiologic services, which substantially exceeded changes at PVAMC and nationally over the same interval.
Authors:
B I Reiner; E L Siegel; C Flagle; F J Hooper; R E Cox; M Scanlon
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Radiology     Volume:  215     ISSN:  0033-8419     ISO Abbreviation:  Radiology     Publication Date:  2000 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-04-25     Completed Date:  2000-04-25     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0401260     Medline TA:  Radiology     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  163-7     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Academic Medical Centers / statistics & numerical data
Ambulatory Care / statistics & numerical data
Baltimore
Diagnostic Imaging / statistics & numerical data,  utilization
Fluoroscopy / statistics & numerical data,  utilization
Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
Hospitals, Veterans / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / statistics & numerical data,  utilization
Mammography / statistics & numerical data,  utilization
Philadelphia
Radiology Department, Hospital / statistics & numerical data,  utilization*
Radiology Information Systems* / statistics & numerical data,  utilization
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / statistics & numerical data,  utilization
Ultrasonography / statistics & numerical data,  utilization

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Harmonic hepatic US with microbubble contrast agent: initial experience showing improved characteriz...
Next Document:  Effects of luminance and resolution on observer performance with chest radiographs.