|
Mariners Hospital recently rolled out Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), which enables the electronic digital transmission of medical images at the hospital and physician offices.
Gone are X-ray films and file jackets. Now, the results of patient imaging tests, such as mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, CT scans and X-rays, along with related data including the radiologist’s report, annotations and analysis, are stored and viewed electronically.
The technologists process the images directly to PACS where they are stored electronically. Physicians can retrieve the images and information from computer workstations located throughout the hospital, from their offices or their homes.
With PACS, reports and images can be accessed whenever the physician needs them, 24 hours a day. There is no more hunting down lost film; no more film that is unavailable until morning, no waiting for film to be delivered.
“From the radiologist’s perspective, PACS is absolutely magnificent. We now acquire, transmit, display, store and manage test images much more efficiently and cost-effectively than we did in the past,” said Mariners Hospital’s Medical Director of Radiology Wayne Moccia, M.D. “The radiologist has immediate access to the various test results. And, I don’t have to be in the hospital to view the images. I can be in my office or my home. PACS has moved us to a completely filmless environment. Because our tests are all digital, rather than film-based, we now have sharper images that are much better than film.”
Dr. Moccia also noted that PACS should improve the timeliness of patient care and treatment, because there is no longer a wait for film to be developed and delivered. Images will be available to all members of the healthcare team much sooner than in the past, enabling them to diagnose a patient more efficiently. In addition, patients who need copies of their diagnostic images stored on PACS will now receive a CD rather than the larger, awkward-to-handle films.
The ease of access to images is extremely beneficial to physicians, according to orthopedist James Dolan, M.D. “I always evaluate my patients' actual imaging studies in addition to reading the radiologist’s report. Therefore, I need to see the studies themselves,” he said.
“PACS gives me instant access to the actual films and images, wherever I am. PACS also allows me to digitally manipulate those films to highlight areas of interest and diminish image overlay that may be obscuring areas of interest while allowing me to make highly accurate measurements of the bones and joints for diagnosis and surgical planning.”
Mariners is the third hospital within Baptist Health South Florida to install PACS. One of the main benefits of this $10 million enterprise-wide integration of hospitals is the ability of medical staff to view the same image simultaneously on multiple monitors.
“This capability is wonderful,” said Elisa Brown-Soltero, M.D. “Now, if I want to consult with a colleague at another Baptist Health hospital, we can both call up the image on our individual screens and discuss the results. Essentially, we are doing a real-time consultation. That wasn’t possible before PACS, because physicians at different locations couldn’t have the same physical film.”
Dr. Soltero, a neurologist and vice president of the hospital’s medical staff, said the enhanced communication between physicians, radiologists and other members of the Mariners’ healthcare team provided by PACS is expected to enhance the level of patient care at the hospital significantly.
Mariners Hospital is part of Baptist Health, the largest not-for-profit healthcare organization in South Florida. Baptist Health also includes Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute and Baptist Outpatient Services. |