title: Modeling of analog film-file radiographic retrievals. A Markov chain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Existing retrieval models for radiology film libraries have not incorporated the influence of previous retrievals. A Markov chain model for the retrieval rates from an analog film library is proposed as a means of considering this effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Markov chain model was developed for the retrieval rates of an analog film library. The Markov chain model required identification of the states of the Markov chain, the required one-step transition probabilities between states, and the initial state probabilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from the Markov chain model compared favorably with the 30-day measurements (25,775 retrievals), but a large enough sample to determine a statistical confidence level was not considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Virginia, Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Spraggins
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007615:Kansas; D008390:Markov Chains; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data