Does the picture archiving and communication system affect report turnaround time in the radiology department of King Khalid Hospital in Saudi Arabia?

Abstract

In hospital systems all over the world, the digitisation of medical imaging has taken place because of the variety of benefits it offers, such as more streamlined service provision, increased efficiency, and time-saving advantages. Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are one of the most sought-after digitisation systems for medical imaging. One of the advantages of this technology is its stated ability to lower report turnaround time (TAT) for medical images. There are, however, differing opinions on whether or not this advantage is actually delivered. There are a number of features of PACS which claim to reduce TAT for medical image reporting. These features include: increased availability of images and reports; instantaneous and easy access to reports through multiple termini; boosted usability; cost-effectiveness; streamlining of the reporting process; and increased image quality. It is therefore concluded that all these advantages must reduce report TAT in radiology departments. There are, however, some reservations about PACS which include the high costs of installation, usability difficulties, and high training costs. In the end, though, PACS has been shown to improve the overall performance of radiology departments by lowering report TAT.