Use of Radiology Information System in Radiological Reporting : A Comparative Time Study

Abstract

A comparative time study of radiological reporting, with and without the use of RIS (radiological information system), was conducted as a series of technology assessments. The purpose was to measure the efficacy of RIS quantitatively, and to maximize it in a hospital by comparing the status of diagnostic reporting quantitatively before and after the introduction of RIS. Another target was to obtain the essential data for the improvement of RIS operations. RESULTS : 1) The average time needed to make a diagnostic report employing the RIS terminal increased by as much as 2.9 times. Further, the number of characters in a report significantly increased by 3.8 times. These results suggest that more detailed reporting (factor 3.8) is facilitated by the extended reporting time (factor 2.9). "Factor" means the ratio of numerical values such as the ratio of the number of characters after RIS operation divided by that before RIS operation, and the ratio of reporting time after RIS operation divided by that before RIS operation. However, we intend to let the word "factor" express other meanings such as the degree of detail of reports. These other meanings are described in the paper. 2) The frequency of employing anatomical sketches was increased by 2.8 times, showing one way that RIS contributes to easier radiological reporting. 3) The effectiveness of RIS in same areas of reporting has been suggested by these results of measurement.