title: Predicting clinical image delivery time by monitoring PACS queue behavior.
abstract: The expectation of rapid image retrieval from PACS users contributes to increased information technology (IT) infrastructure investments to increase performance as well as continuing demands upon PACS administrators to respond to "slow" system performance. The ability to provide predicted delivery times to a PACS user may curb user expectations for "fastest" response especially during peak hours. This, in turn, could result in a PACS infrastructure tailored to more realistic performance demands. A PACS with a stand-alone architecture under peak load typically holds study requests in a queue until the DICOM C-Move command can take place. We investigate the contents of a stand-alone architecture PACS RetrieveSend queue and identified parameters and behaviors that enable a more accurate prediction of delivery time. A prediction algorithm for studies delayed in a stand-alone PACS queue can be extendible to other potential bottlenecks such as long-term storage archives. Implications of a queue monitor in other PACS architectures are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Olayan School of Business, American University of Beirut, Bliss Street, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh/Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon. linking@acm.org
authors.forename: Nelson E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Documet
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018511:Systems Integration; D014584:User-Computer Interface