Kuwaiti Hospital Streamlines Imaging Workflow with Upgraded RIS/PACS

Upgraded technology provides imaging findings viewing across clinical departments, and covers multisite radiology workflow, resulting in lower patient waiting times.

Agfa HealthCare (Mortsel, Belgium) reported that Amiri Hospital (Kuwait City, Kuwait), has upgraded its existing Impax picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and radiology information system (RIS), covering all radiology areas of the hospital. The technology also provides results viewing in the clinical departments of the hospital.

Amiri Hospital is a 10-floor general hospital that serves an estimated 400,000 patients per year. In 2003, it became one of the first hospitals in the Middle East region to install an Impax RIS/PACS. The newest upgrade covers the radiology workflow for the main radiology department, the emergency department, the MRI suite, and the gastroenterology unit. All of these departments are located on different floors or in different buildings of the hospital site.

The solution includes 21 diagnostic workstations for hospital radiologists, and 40 RIS stations for use by all staff, including radiologists, technicians, and reception staff. In the future, the hospital plans to extend the technology to cover areas including intensive care unit (ICU) and critical care unit (CCU).

The upgrade has already had an impact on the radiology workflow. “We’ve seen a dramatic change for our clinical imaging,” said Mr. Saud Al-Saif, head PACS administrator for Al Amiri Hospital. “To give one example, once in the hospital, the patient would previously have to wait anywhere for several hours for the exam. Now, our statistics show that the usual waiting time is under 10 minutes, with a maximum of 45 minutes. The system has proven its effectiveness and reliability in handling the high workload of our radiology department, and thereby helps us to improve patient care.”

“We are very proud of the impressive results following the implementation of the upgraded Impax RIS/PACS,” said Mr. Said Al Halaby, sales manager, Gulf/AfPak for Agfa HealthCare. “We are pleased to be extending our long-term cooperation with this important hospital and to have successfully upgraded the solution together with our trusted Kuwaiti partner Yiaco Medical.”

Related Links:
Agfa HealthCare
Amiri Hospital