During the recently concluded Meditec Clinika exhibition in Chennai, I had an opportunity to visit a large 1200 beds private hospital, which is using Radiology imaging services (RIS) and PACS since a year. I was introduced to a young lady radiologist, all of maybe 30 years of age (guessing), who was using the technology with nonchalant ease. She was all praise for the PACS software and said that it would be difficult for her to go back to using the old film system. Even the diehard old timers had switched over completely, despite resisting it tooth and nail in the beginning. I realized that what had won them over were some very specific features of the technology:
· The transfer of the images for reporting from equipment was almost online and hence there was no need to wait for the films to come by after processing
· Quality of image far superior than that of film.
· Most reporting was done by voice recognition software customized to each person with templates for repetitive reporting formats getting documented without much effort. This cut down the time drastically, and there was no need for typists to do that.
· Just one Doctor could report an incredible 150 – 200 X-Rays in just an hour !!!!!!
· The archiving of data and culling it out for review later was at click of a button!!!! A major plus for research, and second opinions, as well as reaching the image to every nook and corner of the hospital.
· The cost benefit analysis of such a powerful system in hospitals will undoubtedly show returns on investments in such technologies in just 2 years!!!!
· The overall cost of the technology invested in the hospital that I visited was to the tune of Rs. 3.00 crores, which surely is affordable price to many large hospitals, expecially when you consider all the advantages I mentioned above.
I think it’s time that we should speed up the rate at which we imbibe such technologies. Even smaller imaging centers could opt for such technologies; on a sharing cost platform, they could easily reduce their acquisition and maintenance cost. This is the future! The earlier we start using it, the faster will we reap the benefits. It’s a bit like the Apple Mac computer which I bought for my son a week ago – I felt the difference immediately, in terms of ease of use of a superior technology. I found myself wondering why I hadn’t used such a technology earlier on?! No wonder Mac users are diehard fans of their technology…..
I find there is something wring somewhere–I wrote a lengthy response and found not posted–
I wrote a short one–it got posted but has now disappeared–
then i wrote a third one which is also missing–
may be we need to send feedback to blog.com–
Let us hope this stays and i enjoyed reading your blog–
Dear Sir.
Absolutely right ! Technology has driven us since thousands years. Even the hunter gatherer turning to farmer was also due to technology. But the insecurity and moment of inertia ( motion or rest ) hinders the implementation of technology.At the same time acceptability is low if Technology is ahead of time.I started blogging 4 years back , but was not able to drive traffic, because lack of familiarity towards blogs and one year back I read a review, the most hit and visited sites on web are celebrity blogs.
Surprisingly the PACS developed indigenously is really affordable and effective. Storage of Terra bytes of data and cutting down the storage problem and corresponding the to the Go green concept.
At the same time, the segmented community for PACS is also getting to know the outcome and showing more interest in adoption of technology.But more awareness programs are to be conducted. For smaller hospitals mini-PACS solutions are available. So they can also get the benefit fo that.
Regards
The time has come for India to accept digitization sooner than later. In 2003 when we suggested PACS for Hiranandani it was considered luxury initially Now with Unique ID Project to link other Data for all citizens may also include Health Information alongwith other details and can be accessed from the world wide web making it easier for diagnosis in case of health problems faced anywhere without carrying all the relevent details of the patient
Wow…. Amazing in turn.. Many appreciation