title: PACER: a software tool for PACS decision makers.
abstract: This paper describes the development of the software package PACER as it evolved from a cost model to a software package for PACS decision making. PACER was developed as part of the TEASS topic from the EurIPACS project. EurIPACS is an EU subsidized project covering a wide area of PACS related research. The TEASS topic concerns the evaluation of prototype PACSystems in three European hospitals. PACER allows the user to evaluate costs of various PACS implementation scenarios and compare them to the costs of the current film based situation. Its cost calculation is based on a straight forward description of costs of a film based radiology department and of PACS. The PACER cost analysis can consider stepwise introduction of PACS and a corresponding stepwise disappearance of the film environment. This analysis includes effects of price developments. PACER calculates costs and expenses for a number of years in succession. The calculated results can be analysed using graphs, tables and sensitivity analysis tools. Preliminary tests in three hospitals indicate that PACER can indeed be a useful tool in the decision process concerning PACS.
authors.affiliation: BAZIS Central Development and Support Group Hospital Information System, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Enning
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van Gennip
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van den Broeck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rechid
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wein
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bakker
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D005060:Europe; D018803:Models, Economic; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000191:economics*; D012984:Software; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical