The radiology department at PCMC performed about 63,000 imaging studies in 2000 with these modalities: computed radiography, three ultrasound units, one nuclear medicine camera, one MRI, one CT scanner, two flouroscopy units, and a special procedures lab.

Comments

"Our operation is faster with PACS, especially for getting images to neonatal ICU on the fourth floor, the pediatric ICU, the OR, or ER. Rather than us running films around, physicians can just pull images up on a monitor. Some of the radiologists can view from home, which eliminates them having to come in in the middle of the night. PACS has also cut our processing time in half. It used to take about five minutes to process the film. Now we send the picture out electronically in less than two minutes." -- Darin Day, PACS Administrator

"With the CR, the repeat rate has gone down because if your technique is off a little you can adjust it electronically and then send it out. If it's too dark you can lighten it. If it needs more contrast you can do that. The only repeats we have now are for positioning, hardly ever for technique." -- Daren Andrews, Diagnostic Division Manager

"PACS has made the technologists more efficient by eliminating several functions they were previously required to do -- printing film, transporting films to radiology reading sites. We've maintained about the same number of FTEs despite increasing our exam volume by approximately 25% since PACS." -- Dr. Keith White, PCMC radiologist