Radiologists' reading times using PACS and using films: one practice's experience.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the change in radiologists' productivity in terms of interpretation time per examination when using picture archiving and communication system (PACS) workstations in a particular private practice, Valley Radiologists, Ltd, as part of a feasibility study and subsequent business plan to implement a digital enterprise.


METHODS
Time to process a series of exams was measured for 18 radiologists during an uninterrupted period of a working day. Radiologists in the practice served in multiple locations. The data were analyzed in aggregate and by modality (plain film, ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging). Average time per exam, with and without PACS, was measured for each modality. Regression analysis was used to determine the independent effect of PACS on radiologist productivity.


RESULTS
The mean time to process an exam was 1.4 minutes (SE = 0.04) for plain film, 1.96 minutes (SE = 0.14) for ultrasound, 5.08 minutes (SE = 0.44) for computed tomography, and 6.83 minutes (SE = 0.31) for magnetic resonance imaging. Regression results indicate that PACS had no effect on the time taken to read a series of exams.


CONCLUSIONS
When considering a PACS purchase or implementation, decrease in radiologists' time to process an examination may not be realized. In this specific practice setting, we did not find evidence that PACS workstations alone, without any other changes in workflow design, improved radiologists' interpretation time.
Valley Radiologists Ltd., 5322 W. Northern Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301, USA.
Howard B
HB
Fleishon
Mythreyi
M
Bhargavan
Cristian
C
Meghea
D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D004282:Documentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011859:Radiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014962:X-Ray Film / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*