Gabriel Bartal MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Moshe Ayal, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ziv Rosenbaum, Abstract Co-Author: Medical Advisory Board, Carestream Health, Inc

Arnon Makori MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Clalit Health Services (CHS) is the largest HMO in Israel (3.8 million members) that comprises 11 Hospitals and 1300 outpatient clinics. Over the past year a state-of-the-art Web deployed PACS was implemented at Meir Medical Center. Prior to implementation, the hospital used a CD/DVD-Printer System as a storage media and a viewer. The use of a legacy RIS was continued. Our aim is to assess the benefits of the state of the art PACS implementation process on communication and collaboration between Radiologists and Clinicians.

Two anonymous questionnaires on the PACS implementation were distributed among the hospital physicians. 18/18 radiologists (11 attending and 7 residents) responded twice (March 2010 and March 2011) to a validated 1-7 Likert-scale. In addition 71/106 in May 2010 in and 31/52 in March 2011 clinical departments staff responded to a referring physicians questionnaire.We hypothesized that cutting edge PACS may improve communication and teamwork between radiologists and referring physicians that will result in an improved perception of the health care service provided.

We witnessed a remarkably (6 out of 7) high level of PACS usage among referring physicians. We observed statistically significant increase in referring physician perception of patient care following PACS implementation, in the following dimensions: interaction with radiology department staff (4 to 5, P<.01), providing relevant information to radiologists (4 to 6, P<.01), appropriate selection of Imaging studies (3 to 6, P<.01). Furthermore, a decrease in redundant imaging study requests (4 to 2, P<.01) and a decrease in verbal consultations (4 to 3, P<.05), were clearly confirmed by the radiologist's perception of these trends (4 to 2, P<.01; 4 to 3, P<.05, respectively).  

PACS implementation significantly improves communication and collaboration between the radiologists and referring physicians. Careful, but decisive management of the change together with sophisticated tools are a key to the success. Based on our results further implementation throughout the CHS group is on the way.

Management of PACS implementation can be based on validated questionnaires that allow real-time monitoring of the entire process.

Bartal, G, Ayal, M, Rosenbaum, Z, Makori, A, PACS Implementation Improves Communication and Collaboration between Radiologists and Referring Physicians at a University Hospital.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11011459.html