Health Imaging & IT - January 2008 - (Page 37)

developing chemicals and are much quieter. “Now we can see the image immediately and can take a new image at once if we need it. We don’t have call backs.” Techs also like the adjustable mammo unit. “It is easier to work. We have to change the angle so many times a day, with this unit, you can do it automatically,” says Edholm, who added her shoulder has suf- fered from the physical aspect of the job over the years. Now with the touch of a button, the machine moves into place for the four images. For patient comfort, the MicroDose also features a warmer to place the patient’s breast on and rounded edges. Radiologists in Sweden typically work very closely with techs and often spend lunch time with them. Edholm says they like the low dose of the system and the ability to send images electronically for remote access or consultation. The new digital mammography system enhanced workflow for all in the breast unit at Capio Saint Goran Hospital. “Even the women notice. They say, you have changed,” Edhold remarks. “‘Yes, we are digital,’ we tell them.” Lessons to learn from Swedish mammography workflow There are lessons the United States can learn from the Swedish approach to breast cancer screening, says Gerald R. Kolb, JD, chief knowledge officer for Solis Women’s Health, with 10 centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Arizona and North Carolina. At Solis, they currently utilize Fujifilm Medical Systems USA ClearView CR digital mammogram system and Sectra PACS, and have incorporated some of the principles Kolb has learned from visits with the Swedes. He spent time observing workflow at the filmless breast unit at Helsingborg General Hospital, in southern Sweden. Kolb gathered a number of take-aways and touts how the Swedes effectively manage digital breast screening. € centralized breast centers | Specified hospitals have breast centers, allowing the consolidation of resources and expertise. € efficient scheduling | Women automatically receive [ Sectra’s MicroDose mammography system ] “invitations” for a mammogram by mail with a day and time, and it is up to the recipient to reschedule the appointment if she has a conflict. Since patients are block scheduled in half-hour time slots, the first to arrive at the appointed time goes first and the rest follow for a continual flow of scanning. € Punctuality | From both sides, patients and the medical staff are known to be prompt. Patients show up on time and the healthcare staff begins and ends work, breaks and lunch on time. € Paperless workflow | Electronic records are the name of the game. At the time of registration, patient information is updated in the mammography information system. During the exam, techs enter information with a keypad and mouse for an instantaneous record. € ergonomic & electronic equipment | Much emphasis is put into the efficiency and comfort of the mammography systems for the tech and the patient. Easily adjustable systems that are convenient and easy to move make work easier for the tech. Features like smooth edges on the mammography systems ease the scanning process for the patient. € highly trained technologists | Radiology techs in Sweden are nurses with specialized radiology training. They focus only on breast imaging, which makes them more knowledgeable in the field. € Specialty radiologists | The radiologists reading mammograms are specially trained, only focusing on women’s imaging. € Team spirit | Look for doctors, techs and other staff members to not just collaborate on a diagnosis, but to take breaks and eat lunch together in the same dining room as a matter of course. The team approach is important to a collaborative effort of an effective, efficient exam and reading. € Routine conferences | As a matter of course, clinicians (including surgeons, radiologists and oncologists) and staff members meet twice-weekly to discuss cases. HealthImaging.com January 2008 | Health Imaging & IT 37 http://HealthImaging.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Health Imaging & IT - January 2008

Health Imaging & IT Table of Contents On the Web The Enterprise: Is More Better? News Update A Look Inside Next-Generation Multidetector CT Convention Spotlight: RSNA in Review RIS/PACS in the Imaging Center Sweden: A Study in Mammography Excellence The Votes are in: Yea for Speech in U.S. Capital & Beyond Subspecialty Reading Services: Quality Reads, Peace of Mind, 24/7 Enterprise Lung CAD Eases Workflow Advertisers Index Company Index Coming Soon Stat Sheet

Health Imaging & IT - January 2008

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