Lenoir Memorial Using PACS to Cut Film Costs and Improve Image Distribution

Challenge

Year-after-year film cost increases, coupled with declining reimbursements for imaging procedures, prompted Lenoir Memorial Hospital to seek alternatives that would decrease costs and boost efficiency.

Solution

After evaluating nearly 20 different vendors, Lenoir selected Aspyra's AccessNET™ PACS (picture and archive communications systems) and clinical image management solutions.

Results

Lenoir achieved its goal of moving to a filmless environment that the facility expects to reduce annual film costs by $270,000. Lenoir also created an evening shift of radiology technologists that boosted revenue by accommodating the work schedules of patients.

Lenoir Memorial Hospital is a 283-bed not-for-profit hospital that employs more than 100 physicians. Watching Lenoir's $25,000 a month film budget continually climb, the hospital knew that combining digital modalities with a PACS would help reduce or eliminate those costs.

“We started our PACS vendor search by focusing only on companies that specialized in PACS,” said Jeff Cartwright, director of radiology for Lenoir. “We found about 20 companies, but quickly narrowed that list down to four or five companies that we requested to present us with proposals. In the end, Aspyra offered us the most in terms of functionality and capabilities that we could tailor to our specific needs.”

Lenoir uses Aspyra's AccessNET suite of products, which interfaces with computed tomography and ultrasound modalities and interfaces with the organization's hospital and radiology information systems. Lenoir is now a completely filmless facility, and typically sends images on CDs to physicians for referrals. In cases where other organizations cannot read images from CDs, Lenoir laser prints diagnostic-quality images on film. Lenoir currently spends about $1,000 to $2,000 a month on laser film, rather than the $25,000 a month that it used to spend before implementing the Aspyra solutions.

Lenoir also uses Aspyra's solutions to distribute images to referring physicians via the Web. Authorized physicians can access a secure website to view Lenoir's images for specific patients and read accompanying radiology reports using a Web browser.

The increased efficiency and reduced costs realized by Lenoir since implementing the Aspyra solutions has enabled the organization to add an evening shift of radiology technologists. “Rather than having people take time off from work to have a CT or ultrasound performed, our new shift can perform these tests in the evening for people working nine-to-five schedules,” Cartwright said. “This has become such a convenience for people that we've increased the number of exams that we do each month, and increased our revenue as a result.”