Health Imaging & IT - January 2009 - (Page 11)

One month into the deployment, Broaddus reports that Ysio wi-D provides “considerably faster” throughput than the hospital’s other DR rooms. He credits the system’s motorized tube head and organ specific programming that moves the system to 1,000 different positions with the touch of a button with boosting wireless throughput. Broaddus handily addresses one of the potential downsides of wireless radiography: battery life. The hospital invested in two plates each with an eight-hour battery life that recharge when placed in the bucky. “That’s triple redundancy,” states Broaddus. Western Baptist Hospital bypassed the wireless detector deployment for portable DR, opting to invest in Canon CXDI-50G digital plates. Although the detector isn’t wireless, the portable panel incorporates a wireless router, which provides the same functionality as a wireless detector. That is, the technologist selects a patient from the portable worklist, completes the exam and immediately downloads to the image before proceeding to the next patient. “It’s a huge improvement over the portable CR process,” shares Seely. Portable CR typically is plagued by hefty time lapses between image acquisition and images review because each plate must be brought to the reader and verified before being sent to the physician. A Tale of Two Deployments: Retrofit vs. the New Suite The current economic climate further exacerbates the pressure on healthcare providers to contain costs while providing the highest quality patient care. There are two primary approaches to DR cost containment. Hospitals can retrofit an analog or CR room or invest in an entirely new system. Recent DR converts took very different approaches to the process, yet each is satisfied with its path. They recently shared the pros and cons. Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah, Ky., faced three choices for its CR to DR transition: replace existing rooms with multiple plate technology in each room, replace rooms with single-plate technology or retrofit existing rooms with multiple-plate technology. A careful financial analysis showed that the retrofit option would be the most cost-effective approach. That’s because a retrofit lets the site keep existing equipment—wall stands, tables and generators. Because radiography infrastructure had not yet reached the end of its life span, the retrofit option provided the most bang for the buck, says Director of Diagnostic Imaging Bob Seely. During a retrofit, the vendor replaces the bucky with a digital plate and adds a computer and monitor for image review and transmission to the RIS/PACS, reducing the overall acquisition cost while allowing the site to benefit from enhanced DR technology. Seely’s colleagues at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Ky., employed a different model, outfitting a new room with wireless DR technology. “All of the hardware and software is fully integrated and interfaced, and there’s little cabling. Mix and match or add-on components don’t provide the same level of efficiency,” says Bill Broaddus, director of radiology, who adds that current investments must last seven to 10 years to be cost effective. Buying the most advanced technology available minimizes obsolescence and maximizes lifespan. “The department has to live with technology for a long time. It’s important to purchase the best equipment you can when you have approval,” advises Broaddus. It’s important to weigh factors outside of technology during the financial evaluation. Equipment depreciates, but staff doesn’t. Systems that allow imaging departments to provide quality service with less staff are in economic order. All DR systems—retrofits, new projects and wireless detectors—help sites optimize tech staff. Advice from the field » Vendor agnosticism pays. “In any given year, a vendor may introduce a system with new features that best meet your needs,” says Tucker. Integris Baptist Hospital lives and breathes vendor neutrality with recent installations of Carestream Health DR 7500, GE Healthcare Definium 5000 and Philips Healthcare Digital RF systems. » A gradual rollout can facilitate familiarity with DR and streamline projects. What’s more, it’s easier on the purse as a complete overhaul can be pretty pricey, says Seely. » Technologies are outdated within a matter of years. “Invest in leading-edge techHealthImaging.com nology like wireless flat panels on the front end to remain current and save dollars on the back end [via reduced upgrade costs],” says Broaddus. The right tech at the right time DR is the new game changer. Radiology’s core technology is poised for a breakthrough. There are multiple options on the market, allowing every kind of depart- ment to devise a solution to best meet its needs. What’s more, each option provides essential throughput and productivity gains. Sites in the CR or analog world can retrofit rooms with a wide array of DR plates to tiptoe into a more productive, patient-friendly digital environment. DR’s latest and greatest—wireless flat panel detectors—offer new levels of freedom and flexibility. January 2009 | Health Imaging & IT 11 http://www.HealthImaging.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Health Imaging & IT - January 2009

Health Imaging & IT - January 2009 Contents The Enterprise News Update DR Breathes New Life into Radiography Radiology in the Spotlight Educational Sessions Keynote Addresses Tech Trends on the Exhibit Floor Imaging Tools Managing Technology People & Technology Reader's Resource

Health Imaging & IT - January 2009

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