How a Wisconsin system used existing DICOM infrastructure to save time, money
Providers at Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) in Marshfield, Wisconsin, utilized existing DICOM infrastructure to build software that improved its non-radiology imaging quality, access and costs, according to a study published Sept. 4 in the Journal of Digital Imaging.
Non-radiology specialties and their imaging capabilities are often excluded from the well-rounded IT support, electronic health record (EHR) integration and imaging management tools afforded to radiology departments.
“This leads to image studies with incorrect or incomplete patient and procedure metadata, studies stored into disparate systems, limited accessibility, and little or no integration with the EHR,” wrote Dan Kayhart, with MCHS. “In some cases, care teams are using imaging equipment as a tool for patient care without the ability to store a study for later viewing."
With that in mind, the Wisconsin multi-specialty group practice created the "Image Locker" software application to centralize access and image viewing within the EHR, and consolidate imaging to eliminate unnecessary non-radiology imaging resources.
After implementation, MCHS conducted a stopwatch study with its rheumatology, dermatology and oral surgery clinics. Results showed technicians saved an average of 2.5 minutes in labeling and upload time per study compared to the old system. That amounted to 800 hours of saved time annually for photo studies alone, Kayhart wrote.
Additionally, MCHS was able to eliminate a separate ophthalmology system and plans to decommission similar infrastructure used for gastroenterology studies. Together, Kayhart noted, the system will save money on software licensing, upgrades, servers and vendor maintenance fees.
The healthcare system, spread across 50 locations, surveyed more than 700 providers who used the new application, and 98 responded. A total of 77 percent reported they were “satisfied” or “highly satisfied” with Image Locker. Half said they used the application “at least weekly” and nearly 60 percent found the new imaging system saved them time, with “up to five minutes per day” as the most common reply.
“A successful enterprise imaging strategy, combined with implementation of a robust platform of software tools for managing workflows and outcomes can make a substantial positive impact, bringing order and simplicity to an otherwise chaotic situation,” Kayhart wrote.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.