Working with some
of the world’s most
advanced digital radiology development companies including Emageon and UltraVisual,
Southeast has gone "filmless" and
offers one of the first digital imaging and archiving systems in the area.
Mark L. Gates, M.D., chief of radiology at Southeast, says "This new
system facilitates rapid diagnosis and gives physicians some unique 3-D viewing
capabilities. It allows
us to see anatomy and pathology in ways we haven’t
been able to before."
For instance, he says
the three-dimensional images produced by the
new digital system has made it much easier for
physicians to identify certain
organs,
such as the appendix, which has facilitated the diagnosis of appendicitis
in a number
of cases.
The elimination of traditional x-ray film in
Southeast’s
Emergency Department has helped streamline patient care while maintaining
high quality standards. "By eliminating steps associated with development
of traditional x-rays, digital imaging speeds up patient care which makes
us more efficient," comments Michael A. Kolda, M.D., medical director
of emergency services at Southeast.
"Our new system has a number of other advantages over traditional x-rays
including the quality of the images and the digital ‘tools’ available
to enhance viewing," he notes. "Also, the radiologist and clinician
can view and discuss the same images on remote screens simultaneously which is
a significant advantage. Previously we would have to hand carry a film to the
radiologist." This step saves precious minutes which, in emergency medicine,
can save lives as well as time.
In addition to saving time and lives, the PACS system also saves space and
money. In the past, Southeast Missouri Hospital produced enough x-ray film,
MRI scans,
CT images, mammograms, PET scans and other images over the course of a few
years to fill a medium sized house. Thanks to the new filmless system, all
those images
can be stored on a few computer hard drives and backup storage systems.
Images
can be loaded onto CD-ROM disks allowing patients to easily provide copies
to consulting physicians. "Any study performed at Southeast after
mid-February is available to be downloaded onto a CD-ROM and given to the
patient," Dr.
Gates notes. "No more bulky films or concern over losing the films,
and since they’re digitally archived, an infinite number of copies
can be made."
Dr. Gates adds that the National Institute of
Health already makes digital copies of diagnostic
images. "Soon, hospitals
that have PACS systems will be able to communicate with each other and
will be able to share studies electronically," he
says. "This could eliminate the need for making copies altogether."
According
to Southeast Radiology Director Tom Welch, the PACS system is helping
the Hospital control costs by eliminating or reducing film,
chemical
and
storage costs. In 2002, Southeast spent approximately $400,000 to produce "film" images.
By next year that expense will be reduced by about 70 percent thanks
to the new digital technology.
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