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Winter 2009 |
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H E A L T H T E C H N O L O G Y
PACS program having positive impact
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Stock Photo |
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The provincial
Picture Archiving and Communications Systems enables
health care providers across the province to view, manage,
distribute and electronically store images and related medical
reports on a secure computer system from any location.
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Submitted Article |
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The provincial Picture Archiving and
Communications Systems (PACS) enables health care providers across
the province to view, manage, distribute and electronically store
images and related medical reports on a secure computer system from
any location, regardless of where the test was performed. This has
replaced the use of film for diagnostic services such as x-rays,
ultrasounds, computed tomography (CT) and mammography.
The PACS program has resulted in increased
productivity and improved efficiency within our healthcare system with a
significant reduction in repeated exams and patient transfers. This
program has improved patient care by providing remote sites more timely
access to radiologists and specialists, ensuring improved access
regardless of geography.
For example, PACS allows diagnostic images
administered by a radiology technologist to be viewed and analyzed on a
computer screen by a radiologist anywhere. This benefit of enhanced
patient care in rural areas of the province was acknowledged by three
professional groups (physicians, radiologists, and radiology
technologists) in a post-PACS survey as part of a benefits evaluation of
the PACS program undertaken by the Centre for Health Information’s
Research and Evaluation Department.
“From a radiologist view point, PACS and
the Teleradiology network have made a tremendous improvement in patient
care and the ability of radiologists to work more efficiently and
accurately,” says Dr. Benvon Cramer, Professor and Chair Janeway Child
Health Centre Radiology Department. “Previous examinations are now
instantly available for comparison and only a minimal number of
examinations are lost. Clinicians now ask for opinions on DI exams from
across the province and "on" services are provided to areas that do not
have on-site radiology coverage. There are several examples where
Teleradiology has had significant impact on patient care. Teleradiology
is not just for radiologists, but has the potential to benefit all
clinicians and patients.”
The provincial PACS program became a
vision for the future when the former Central East Health Care
Institutions Board implemented the first regional PACS system in 1998.
The vision for the future simply stated was A5 - Any Patent, Any Image,
Any Report, Any Where and Any Time. This vision was realized in October
2007 when the last regional PACS system was linked to the provincial
system. This project was an initiative of the Department of Health and
Community Services, in collaboration with the Regional Health
Authorities, and Canada Health Infoway.
For more information about PACS or the
Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, please visit
the NLCHI website.
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