Preliminary time-flow study: Comparison of interpretation times between pacs workstations and films

• Published in: Computerized medical imaging and graphics Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 261 - 265
• Main Authors: Kato, Hajime, Kubota, Gen, Kojima, Kaoru, Hayashi, Naoto, Nishihara, Eitaro, Kura, Hiroyuki, Aizawa, Mitsuhiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Ltd 01.05.1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Computer Systems; Computerized, statistical medical data processing and models in biomedicine; Data Display; Hospital information system (HIS); Hospital Information Systems; Humans; Information Storage and Retrieval; Interpretation time; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical management aid. Diagnosis aid; Medical sciences; Picture archiving and communication system (PACS); Radiographic Image Enhancement; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Radiography, Thoracic; Radiology information system (RIS); Radiology Information Systems; Reading practice; Time and Motion Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; X-Ray Film; Reading practice; Radiology information system (RIS); Picture archiving and communication system (PACS); Hospital information system (HIS); Interpretation time; Information system; Archival storage; Telecommunication; Interpretation; Time study; Workstation; Biomedical data processing; Radiologic film; Medical imagery; Hospital; Computer aid; Comparative study; Biomedical engineering; Execution time
• ISSN: 0895-6111; 1879-0771
• DOI: 10.1016/0895-6111(95)00010-N

Toshiba Hospital installed a PACS and RIS in the diagnostic imaging department along with a hospital-wide HIS in May 1993. Our PACS includes three diagnostic workstations each of which is provided with six monochrome CRT monitors. The diagnostic workstations have been used as the primary tools for interpretation of almost all radiographic images. The actual image interpretation time was measured for diagnostic workstations (237 examinations) and for conventional hard-copy films (219 examinations) for CR, CT, and MRI. The difference in interpretation times between diagnostic workstations and films was not significant. With regard to image interpretation time, diagnostic workstations are thought to be acceptable for practical image reading.