title: Use of computer conferencing to allow view box-style teaching sessions with residents at outlying hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Health care reform is placing new pressures on radiology faculty members to use their time more efficiently. We implemented a computer conferencing technique that allows one faculty member to perform a simultaneous view box-style teaching session with residents at local and outlying hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The system simultaneously displays digital images on computer screens at the local and outlying hospitals; an on-screen pen allows the instructor or the participants to point to findings on the images. Audio is provided either by a telephone conference call using speakerphones or over the wide-area network using microphones and speakers built into the computers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The technique has been in use for 1 year. A survey of the faculty and residents indicate that computer conferencing is equivalent to traditional face-to-face teaching sessions at the view box.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computer conferencing is possible and accepted. The technique is low-cost, using generic computers that are part of the picture archiving and communication system at both hospitals, and relatively inexpensive conferencing software.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Datz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baune
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valdivia
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D013685:Telecommunications