Breast Imaging Center Streamlines Workflow with PACS, Multimodality Workstations

With new picture archiving and communications system (PACS) and multimodality workstations, radiologist productivity has been considerably improved, and a U.S. breast center is now able to offer same day reporting for all diagnostic and screening exams.

In the past, reports on screening exams from remote clinics often took several days. High patient volumes require high-end technology. With five locations that see 400 patients a day, Park Nicollet Jane Brattain Breast Center (St. Louis Park, MN, USA) converted to an efficient, all-digital workflow after implementing a Carestream PACS and six multimodality breast imaging workstations from Carestream Health (Rochester, NY, USA).

The main diagnostic center performs 240 exams a day with five full-field digital mammography (FFDM) systems, three ultrasound, two stereotactic biopsy systems, and a breast-specific gamma imaging system. All exams conducted at the main center--along with screening exams from remote clinics and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams conducted at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital--are read by radiologists at the center.

"Creating a smooth mammography workflow is complicated because of the diverse modalities now used for breast imaging. The Carestream PACS offers an exceptional workflow through its smooth integration with existing RIS [radiology information system], VR [voice recognition], and CAD [computer-aided detection] systems and its superior toolset for mammography reading,” said Kathy Wilson, supervisor of the Breast Center.

The PACS is integrated with the center's RIS, PowerScribe, and CADstream for MRI systems. "Radiologists log in once and have instant electronic access to patient history as well as prior imaging exams and reports. They can elect to use structured reporting from the RIS or dictate their findings,” she explained.

Radiologists praise the mammography tools delivered by the PACS and the multimodality workstations, according to Ms. Wilson. "These workstations allow our radiologists to read exams from all modalities and vendors at a single workstation, which is a huge advantage. Prior exams are delivered with the current exam and hanging protocols are personalized for each radiologist to ensure maximum productivity. In addition the workstation's innovative hand-held controller reduces hand movements and delivers better ergonomics.”

Prior exams are now digitized to eliminate couriering film exams from remote clinics. Paper has been completely eliminated from the reading process. Carestream Health's PACS and multimodality breast imaging workstations deliver specialized mammography reading tools--including chest wall justification, tissue invert, quad zoom, and others--for use with images from FFDM, computed radiography (CR) mammography, breast MR, breast ultrasound, digitized films, and general radiography modalities. Carestream PACS integrates smoothly with existing management information systems (MIS), RIS, and speech recognition systems as well as digital CAD systems.

Related Links:
Carestream Health
Park Nicollet Jane Brattain Breast Center