title: The first picture archiving and communication system in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Changes in the utilization rate of imaging tests in the first year after implementation.
abstract: Implementation of the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is more challenging in developing countries than in developed countries. Given that the first PACS in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) was successfully installed at the Children's Hospital of Lao PDR, we aimed to investigate whether the utilization rate of imaging tests increased after PACS implementation.
  
  
  
  PACS was implemented at the Children's Hospital of Lao PDR in December 2014. We compared the utilization rates of imaging tests including X-ray and ultrasound examinations between the pre-PACS period (from December 2013 to November 2014) and the post-PACS period (from December 2014 to November 2015). The utilization rate was defined as the number of imaging tests divided by the number of patients per month.
  
  
  
  The average number of total imaging tests was 225.8/month (standard deviation [SD], 37.7) during the 1-year pre-PACS period and was 269.4/month (SD, 38.5) during the 1-year post-PACS period (P=0.0103). The utilization rate of total imaging tests significantly increased after PACS implementation (pre-PACS, 2.47%/month; post-PACS, 4.23%/month; P<0.0001). Increased utilization rates were observed for both X-rays (pre-PACS, 1.65%/month; post-PACS, 2.38%/month; P=0.0004) and ultrasound examinations (pre-PACS, 0.82%/month; post-PACS, 1.85%/month; P=0.0001).
  
  
  
  The implementation of PACS at the Children's Hospital of Lao PDR resulted in a significant increase in the utilization rate of imaging tests, suggesting the indirect benefit of improved quality of care. Our findings showed that the benefits of PACS can be realized even in a resource-limited country such as Lao PDR.
authors: Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Lao PDR Office, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Cardiovascular Unit, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Cardiovascular Center & Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: inchang.hwang@gmail.com.
authors: In-Chang
authors: IC
authors: Hwang
authors: Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Lao PDR Office, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Kil Won
authors: KW
authors: Lee
authors: Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Lao PDR Office, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Sang Soon
authors: SS
authors: Park
authors: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Lee Jong-Wook Fellowship Program, JW LEE Center for Global Medicine, Seoul National University & Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Siamphone
authors: S
authors: Chanthanoulay
authors: Cardiovascular Unit, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; Lee Jong-Wook Fellowship Program, JW LEE Center for Global Medicine, Seoul National University & Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Malouny
authors: M
authors: Sisavanh
authors: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; University of Health Sciences, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Virasack
authors: V
authors: Rajpho
authors: Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Lao PDR Office, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Mijin
authors: M
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Somxay
authors: S
authors: Billamay
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Sommanikhone
authors: S
authors: Phangmanixay
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Lao Democratic People's Republic; University of Health Sciences, Lao Democratic People's Republic.
authors: Bounleua
authors: B
authors: Oudavong
mesh_terms: D016248:Computer Storage Devices; D003906:Developing Countries; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007812:Laos; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems
keywords: Developing country; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Laos; PACS; Picture archiving and communication system