D.L.W.: The author is a consultant for Agfa corporation.
The benefits of desktop integration of PACS and speech recognition include decreased distraction from image viewing as well as potential reversal of the time penalty for speech recognition use. These have been discussed in the literature, however the specific design issues of such an integration have not been detailed. Consequently, there are a number of differences among vendors providing integrated PACS and SR. The basic workflow principle in designing this software is keeping the eyes and mind of the radiologist on the images and not on the keyboard, mouse or other controllers. The software should minimize the need for data entry with automated sharing of patient demographics and other information. User commands, when they exist at all, should be rapid and intuitive requiring two or fewer hands and no visual cues. Another key feature of successful desktop integration is complete user control over SR window location, size and activity. User preferences must be created to allow for differences among individual radiologists and the varying requirements for dictation in different modalities. Since most radiologists will dictate while at the same time performing PACS tasks, these must be simultaneous.It is likely that both PACS and SR will share keyboard commands and functions. The software must be sophisticated enough to handle this redundancy without intervention by the radiologist.Other issues such as addending a report and resident/staff workflow must be handled appropriately. Provision should be made for automating miscellaneous tasks previously performed by transcriptionists such as adding a case to the teaching file or generating a letter to a mammography patient. These will require a functional software interface with the RIS.Future integration software can make use of the appropriate IHE profiles and should include links between text and annotated images. Data from modalities, PACS and RIS should automatically populate user-defined fields within the report. With proper attention to detail the design of a desktop integration between PACS and SR should maximize radiologist efficiency while eliminating distractions.
To understand workflow issues involved in desktop integration of PACS and SR. To define the specific design requirements for minimizing the distractions to the radiologist and for maximizing the efficient use of both software systems during image interpretation and dictation. To discuss the use of IHE profiles in future integration software.
Weiss, D,
Integration of Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) and Speech Recognition (SR): Requirements for Successful Implementation. Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4406813.html
