Picture archiving and communication systems and vascular surgery: clinical impressions and suggestions for improvement.

Publication/Presentation Date

11-1-1996

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the acceptance and clinical utility of a large scale picture archiving and communication system (PACS) for vascular surgery. Questionnaires and one-on-one interviews were conducted with physicians and nurses in the department of vascular surgery at the Baltimore VA Medical Center where PACS has been in routine, hospital-wide use for more than 2 1/2 years. The perceptions of the clinical staff were assessed to determine the efficacy of PACS in comparison to the conventional film based alternative for the practice of vascular surgery and suggestions for improvements were solicited. There was consensus among the vascular surgery staff members that the use of PACS enhanced their clinical practices, both in and out of the operating room (OR). Vascular surgeons heavily rely on image display in the OR as a "road map" to help determine their operative approach and to guide their surgery. PACS offers unique intraoperative imaging capabilities including rapid image retrieval and improved archival, cine review, the ability to modify image contrast, and the ability to obtain direct quantitative measurements of the degree of vascular stenosis. The increased accessibility and availability of images throughout the hospital enables improvement in time management and in patient care.

Volume

9

Issue

4

First Page

167

Last Page

171

ISSN

0897-1889

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Radiology

PubMedID

8951095

Department(s)

Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Imaging

Document Type

Article

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