Home reporting for the nuclear clinician?
The computer-based 'home office' is becoming a widely accepted mode of operation for modern businesses. It is implausible to believe that a nuclear medicine department can be covered permanently at a distance by a single physician, but it should be possible to provide cover for colleagues during sickness or at night or weekends. We have used a 486 PC with a high-resolution screen and software provided by LINK Medical Ltd to obtain images from hospital sites using a modem link to ADAC, Bartec and Nuclear Diagnostic SUN workstations. The data were transferred via standard telephone lines to the homes of two of the authors. During a trial period lasting several months, 60 lung scans, 20 bone scans, 1 gastrointestinal bleeding study, 4 leukocyte scans, 5 bone tomograms, 9 renograms, 6 myocardial perfusion tomograms and 2 gated cardiac studies were transferred. The system allowed transfer of a 128 x 128 eight-view lung scan to be completed in approximately 2 min. The program on the PC allowed alteration of individual image contrast, image rotation, cine display and a variety of colour scales to enhance image interpretation. A system to transfer chest X-rays has been developed and typical transfer times are approximately 3.5 min. Within the viewing protocol on the PC, a reporting window was available with the ability to fax the report directly to the hospital. The system allowed consultants who live at a distance from their nuclear medicine departments to provide cover and is now used as an integral part of our out-of-hours service. The system also allows cover of satellite units or to provide cover for junior staff at night or weekends.
O'Doherty
M J
MJ
Kent and Canterbury Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK.
Kettle
A G
AG
Bird
N J
NJ
Barrington
S F
SF
Wells
C P
CP
Coakley
A J
AJ
D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008838:Microcomputers; D009683:Nuclear Medicine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019114:Remote Consultation; D013679:Technology, Radiologic; D006113:United Kingdom