Incremental cost of PACS in a medical intensive care unit

Curtis P. Langlotz M.D.; Bridget Cleff; Orit Even-Shoshan; Mary T. Bozzo; Regina O. Redfern; Inna Brikman; Sridhar B. Seshadri; Steven C. Horii M.D.; Harold L. Kundel

doi:10.1117/12.208788

12 May 1995 Incremental cost of PACS in a medical intensive care unit

Curtis P. Langlotz M.D., Bridget Cleff, Orit Even-Shoshan, Mary T. Bozzo, Regina O. Redfern, Inna Brikman, Sridhar B. Seshadri, Steven C. Horii M.D., Harold L. Kundel

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2435, Medical Imaging 1995: PACS Design and Evaluation: Engineering and Clinical Issues; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.208788
Event: Medical Imaging 1995, 1995, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Our purpose is to determine the incremental costs (or savings) due to the introduction of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) and computed radiology (CR) in a medical intensive care unit (MICU). Our economic analysis consists of three measurement methods. The first method is an assessment of the direct costs to the radiology department, implemented in a spreadsheet model. The second method consists of a series of brief observational studies to measure potential changes in personnel costs that might not be reflected in administrative claims. The third method (results not reported here) is a multivariate modeling technique which estimates the independent effect of PACS/CR on the cost of care (estimated from administrative claims data), while controlling for clinical case- mix variables. Our direct cost model shows no cost savings to the radiology department after the introduction of PACS in the medical intensive care unit. Savings in film supplies and film library personnel are offset by increases in capital equipment costs and PACS operation personnel. The results of observational studies to date demonstrate significant savings in clinician film-search time, but no significant change in technologist time or lost films. Our model suggests that direct radiology costs will increase after the limited introduction of PACS/CR in the MICU. Our observational studies show a small but significant effect on clinician film search time by the introduction of PACS/CR in the MICU, but no significant effect on other variables. The projected costs of a hospital-wide PACS are currently under study.

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Curtis P. Langlotz M.D., Bridget Cleff, Orit Even-Shoshan, Mary T. Bozzo, Regina O. Redfern, Inna Brikman, Sridhar B. Seshadri, Steven C. Horii M.D., and Harold L. Kundel "Incremental cost of PACS in a medical intensive care unit", Proc. SPIE 2435, Medical Imaging 1995: PACS Design and Evaluation: Engineering and Clinical Issues, (12 May 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.208788

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