SAN DIEGO - March 15, 2006 Digital mammography should be fully integrated with an advanced PACS to realize the full potential of the digital technology, according to a podium presentation at the recent annual conference of the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC).

The presentation was by Michael Trambert, M.D., lead radiologist for PACS reengineering at Sansum-Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic (SSB) in Santa Barbara, Calif. His talk described the successful process of integrating digital mammography with a DR Systems PACS (picture archiving and communication system) at SSB.

In most settings to date, digital mammograms are read and archived on specialty workstations and mini-PACS obtained from the mammography vendor. Dr. Trambert reported that this “mammography island” approach is an inefficient and overly costly arrangement.  He said it also runs counter to the current digital imaging trend of integrating and consolidating systems.

Integrating mammography with a sophisticated PACS and RIS (radiology information system) makes possible significant gains in productivity and profitability, and provides clinical benefits, as well.

“We’ve already seen substantial benefits from our integrated approach,” said Dr. Trambert. “We’re also continuing to adapt our procedures to take full advantage of the combined capabilities of digital mammography and our PACS.  These steps include near- term transition to PACS integrated dictation for all radiology modalities and an integrated MQSA reporting feature." 

Dr. Trambert’s presentation mentioned the following potential productivity gains from full integration of digital mammography and his facility's PACS:

• Radiologists. Radiologists can access images from all modalities -- not just mammography -- from the PACS workstation, allowing them to balance their workloads, transitioning to reading from one of many PACS workstations utilizing a single unified database, rather than the single specialty workstation. This transition will allow the radiologists to read digital mammography exams paperless, just as all other modalities are interpreted off the PACS, a requirement for efficient workload balancing.  When reading on the digital mammography workstation originally acquired by SSB, radiologists have to move to another room to read off this workstation, and cannot read other modality exams.
  
  
• Technologists. In an integrated environment, technologists will no longer have to manage worklists for the specialty workstation. Technologists can access prior exams and reports from the PACS, expediting workflow.  Also, efficiency in managing additional views is enhanced.  Exam history and technical information will be directly exchanged with the radiologist via the PACS using electronic exam requisitions, facilitating their workflow.
  
  
• Front office. An integrated environment increases the efficiency of staff for both the radiology department and referring physicians, because images and reports are accessed from a unified system instead of searched in multiple systems.
  
  
• Referring physicians. Referring physicians access digital mammography and all other radiology images and voice clip reports from any Web-connected computer in their home, office, and in the operating rooms at the hospitals and outpatient surgery centers, because of the PACS’ Web-based distribution capabilities.

An integrated system also saves substantial costs, eliminating the capital and maintenance costs of separate mini-PACS infrastructure. Savings at SSB are estimated to be $750,000 in capital costs and $75,000 to $112,500 in annual service costs in an integrated scenario versus a non-integrated one.

In addition, the integrated approach offers clinical benefits – in particular, more timely diagnosis and treatment and reduced potential for medical errors, due to the immediate availability of images and reports via the Web, with the report available as soon as the exam is interpreted by the radiologist. A mammography island requires extra steps that add time to the clinical process and create opportunities for errors. Integration avoids these possibilities by maximizing efficiency.

For example, MRI and ultrasound images are increasingly being used in combination with mammography to detect breast cancer. When integrated, all the modalities can be easily accessed and compared on a single workstation with a common worklist.

            “Sansum's experience shows what can be achieved by facilities that embrace the vision of a fully integrated imaging and reporting environment,” said Rick Porritt, DR System’s president and CEO. “The experience of Dr. Trambert at SSB demonstrates the advantages of our tightly integrated, full-featured system in improving clinical care, productivity, and financial return.”

DR Systems was rated the #1 PACS vendor by MD Buyline in its January 2006 Intelligence Report; ranked #2 by KLAS in the 2005 Community Hospital 2005 PACS Report; and ranked #3 in the 2005 KLAS Acute Care Report.

 About DR Systems
DR Systems, Inc. is the leading independent provider of film-free medical systems and paperless information systems for diagnostic imaging centers and hospitals. For 12 years, the company has helped more than 250 hospitals and imaging centers improve the management of patient information, eliminate film costs, and increase workflow speed, all while providing better clinical quality and patient care. DR Systems’ unified PACS utilizes “Smart Client” technology to maximize efficiency and ease of use. The company’s systems integrate numerous tools to improve financial performance and productivity, including: client-server and Web-based image, report and audio clip distribution; patented, automated hanging protocols for radiologists; and the report format preferences of individual referring physicians. For more information, call 800-794-5955 or visit www.dominator.com.