[Usefulness of a Contrast Dose Administration System Using the Radiology Information System].

We report on the construction of a system for managing prior information and injection condition used for contrast enhance CT examination using radiology information system (RIS). Contrast dose administration system using the RIS was possible to retrospectively investigate optimal injection conditions from the database. As the prior information, we designed the patient's profile information of the hospital information system (HIS) to reflect the patient's height, weight, and kidney function (eGFR, Cre), which is necessary information for contrast enhance CT examination, in the RIS. By adding E-Box (DICOM Gateway) to the injector, it became possible to reflect the amount of contrast agent used in patients and injection conditions at contrast enhance CT examination. The contrast agent use information is transmitted to RIS by using modality performed procedure step (MPPS). Database of injection condition at contrast enhance CT examination using the RIS, to determine the optimal injection conditions retrospectively. By utilizing the massive amount of clinical information stored in the RIS, the amount of contrast agent and injection condition at contrast enhance CT examination could be optimized. Reproducibility of the contrast effect can be secured. In the CE, evidence system linked with RIS, when considering the reproducibility at follow-up observation and comparative diagnosis in clinical practice, the contrast effect could be made constant. Contrast dose administration system using the RIS was useful.

Checklist for a Radiology Information System Go-Live.

This article highlights the experience of a single center institution undergoing a change in radiology information system (RIS) software platforms, transitioning to an electronic medical record-RIS driven workflow. Ten planning and execution topics with recommendations are presented in checklist form from the radiology department perspective. The build process of creating a site specific RIS takes many months, beginning with the organization of a steering committee. On Go-Live, several checklist items are offered to help streamline the troubleshooting process and improve communication throughout the radiology department. The groundwork of the group effort in creating the infrastructure of the build process can continue to be useful beyond Go-Live, as RIS features are continually optimized.

[Variation of the Implementation of PACS Functions and Image Data Management: Questionnaire Survey in Hokkaido Prefecture].

The image management function of picture archiving and communication system (PACS) plays a very important role while electronically preserving medical records. However, details of these mechanisms vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, which could be a problem if system specifications or image management functions are not confirmed by a user during system installation or operation. The purpose of this research was to record the differences in PACS settings and image data management in hospitals. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 261 hospitals having the PACS system in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan. Questionnaire contents consisted of a face sheet and the following two items: 1) PACS image deletion method, 2) rules regarding the PACS receiving an image of data that was already registered. Results of the questionnaire survey showed that the image deletion method in the PACS server, and the overwriting rule in case of existent images being re-transmitted to the server were different between different hospitals. Furthermore, these variations were not dependent on the vendors or manufacturers, but on the settings of each hospital. Since the image management method of PACS is not standardized, we were considered to be needed more attention and appropriate regulation for safe management of electronic medical records as per the national guideline.

Implementing an Integrated Large-Scale Clinical Information System for ISSSTE's Hospital Network in Mexico.

The Institute for Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) is a large public provider of health care services that serve around 13.2 million Mexican government workers and their families. To attain process efficiencies, cost reductions, and improvement of the quality of diagnostic and imaging services, ISSSTE was set out in 2019 to create a digital filmless medical image and report management system. A large-scale clinical information system (CIS), including radiology information system (RIS), picture archiving and communication system (PACS), and clinical data warehouse (CDW) components, was implemented at ISSSTE's network of forty secondary- and tertiary-level public hospitals, applying global HL-7 and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards. In just 5 months, 40 hospitals had their endoscopy, radiology, and pathology services functionally interconnected within a national CIS and RIS/PACS on secure private local area networks (LANs) and a secure national wide area network (WAN). More than 2 million yearly studies and reports are now in digital form in a CDW, securely stored and always available. Benefits include increased productivity, reduced turnaround times, reduced need for duplicate exams, and reduced costs. Functional IT solutions allow ISSSTE hospitals to leave behind the use of radiographic film and printed medical reports with important cost reductions, as well as social and environmental impacts, leading to direct improvement in the quality of health care services rendered. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version of this article (10.1007/s42399-020-00713-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.