Benefits of the DICOM Structured Report

Recently, the digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) standard introduced rules for the encoding, transmission, and storage of the imaging diagnostic report. This medical document can be stored and communicated with the images in picture archiving and communication system (PACS). It is a structured document that contains text with links to other data such as images, waveforms, and spatial or temporal coordinates. Its structure, along with its wide use of coded information, enables the semantic understanding of the data that is essential for the Electronic Healthcare Record deployment. In this article, we present DICOM Structured Report (SR) and discuss its benefits. We show how SR enables efficient radiology workflow, improves patient care, optimizes reimbursement, and enhances the radiology ergonomic working conditions. As structured input significantly alters the interpretation process, understanding all its benefits is necessary to support the change. Biography Rita Noumeir is a professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Quebec, école de Technologie Superieure in Montreal. A founding member of the Imaging, Vision, and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (LIVIA), her main research interest is the Healthcare Information Technology, specifically, Interoperability, Electronic Patient Record, Security, Information Confidentiality, and Image Processing. As a member of both Technical and Planning International IHE Radiology Committees, Dr. Noumeir took part over the last 5 years in developing many Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) Integration Profiles in Radiology and in organizing several Integration Demonstrations. She is a cofounder of IHE Canada. Dr. Noumeir contributed to many research and development projects in collaboration with several Canadian and international companies in medical imaging and healthcare information. Currently, she collaborates with the Diagnostic Imaging Team of Canada Health Infoway to define the principles and architecture for sharing imaging information between multiple healthcare institutions. She plays a leading role in the development of this solution that is published as an IHE Integration Profile for which she is the editor. Rita Noumeir holds a Ph.D. and a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering from école Polytechnique of Montreal specializing in Medical Imaging. She is a professional engineer, and a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec.     

Benefits of the DICOM Modality Performed Procedure Step

A few years ago, the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine standard introduced a network transaction that is initiated by modality equipment, mainly at the beginning and at the end of the acquisition. This transaction, the Modality Performed Procedure Step (MPPS), is sent to the Picture Archiving and Communication System and/or to the Radiology Information System. It carries information about what really has been performed by the modality equipment during acquisition. In this paper, we present MPPS and discuss its benefits. We show how MPPS enables efficient radiology workflow and how it ensures accuracy and completeness of imaging information. We think our paper helps bridge the gap between MPPS implementation and deployment. By understanding all the MPPS benefits, the end user becomes aware of the great enhancement in patient care that this transaction provides.     

PACS/RIS系统构建及其初步应用

根据医院的特点，采用适合个体的系统架构和单元设计予以工程实施，构建医院的PACS／RIS系统，探讨PACS／RIS系统构建组网方案、关键技术及系统的应用价值。结果是各种不同来源的图像可以相互交流，实现集中存储、异地图像调用和处理、登记预约、报告生成等实现电子化，优化了放射科工作流程。     

论坛专题报告之二 Employing Industry Standards for System Integration in Digital Radiology Department

１．INTRODUCTIONSincethepastdecade熏RadiologyInformationSystem穴RIS雪andPictureArchivingandCommunicationSys鄄tem穴PACS雪havebeingemployedinanincreasednumberofradiologyde鄄partmentstoimproveprocesspro鄄ductivity熏providebetterqualityofimagingservices熏andreducemedicalerrors．Intherecentyears熏systemin鄄tegrationhasbecomethemajorneedofthehealthcareprovidersworld鄄wide熏todrivethedirectionofthede鄄velopmentofRISandPACStowardsafullyintegrateddigitalradiologyde鄄partment．Openindustrys…     

GE PACS/RIS的升级改造

目的：选择合适的医院科室级Mini-PCAS升级改造方案。方法：在分析医院GEPACS/RIS的不足之处后,提出了从硬件和软件2个方面对现有系统进行升级改造。结果：系统的运行效率有了极大的提升,而且在影像科室流程管理方面做了功能增强和扩展。结论：结合国外PACS和国产RIS的优势,是比较合适的解决方案。     

电子申请单在医院使用中的体会

阐述了医院电子申请单实施时的重点及值得注意的地方,电子申请单在各个检查科室的应用改变了病人的检查流程,解决了病人做检查过程中的多次排队现象,缩短了病人的检查时间,真正实现了无纸化的操作。     

RIS/PACS系统实施过程中Worklist的配置与调试

RIS/PACS系统是数字化医院建设的重要组成部分,在RIS/PACS系统实施过程中,Worklist的配置与调试则关系到放射科整体流程是否畅通.本文着重介绍了与Worklist相关的一些基本概念及配置与调试的实例,希望对其他医院的RIS/PACS实施有所帮助.     

影像科综合管理系统的研制

影像科综合管理系统是在RIS和PACS的基础上构架和研发的一套大型、综合性管理系统，是影像科医生、技师、护士、工程师的工作平台。该系统将RIS、PACS、HIS及影像设备集成一体，并在原有RIS的基础上增加了检查工作站和DICOM打印管理系统，从而使影像科的信息采集、浏览、传递全部通过网络操作，并做到量化、细化地管理，使管理更加有效。     

PACS: Vom Projekt zur Realität Erfahrungsbericht über die vollständige Digitalisierung der Radiologischen Abteilung eines Schwerpunktkrankenhauses

Objective. To assess the time needed and the resulting effects of a complete digitalisation of a radiological department of a major hospital (856 beds, 28.000 in-patients, 35000 out-patients/year) a pilot study was performed. This had to be done without interrupting routine services. Results. After intensive preparations were performed and the hospital-network was completed, within a two year period all radiological functions (mammography excluded), reporting stations and archives were changed to a complete digital workflow. All modalities (provided by 3 different companies) are now connected by DICOM-work lists. The picture-files (4 GB/day) are automatically routed to the work-stations (n = 10), where the reporting and file shows are performed, to the digital archive and to the peripheral viewing-stations (n = 44). The distribution of the digital pictures takes place all over the hospital including the ORs and special units. We accomplished, to connect electronically the report and the image data. The clinical file shows are also performed completely digitally. The access to the data of the deep archive is possible by the dept. of radiology without any manual interaction. The film consumption was reduced to an amount of less than 10%, as compared to the prior PACS situation. Since PACS has been introduced the radiological productivity increased by more than 15% and throughput-time was clearly reduced. Conclusions. The complete digitalisation increases productivity and attractiveness of a hospital-radiology and helps to shorten diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. The transfer from a conventional to a digital workflow is possible without interrupting the clinical services. Extensive preparations and ongoing assistance of such projects though are clearly needed.