This document summarizes a presentation about implementing an integrated radiology information system (RIS), picture archiving and communication system (PACS), and reporting solution at Rutland Regional Medical Center. The system provides streamlined workflow from patient check-in through report delivery. It has led to improved efficiency through a unified system, faster report turnaround times, reduced transcription needs, better monitoring of metrics, and enhanced collaboration between radiologists and other physicians. The integrated system also allows for improved coding and billing processes as well as cost savings through staffing reductions.

1. SPONSORED BY:
RADIOLOGY WORKFLOW:
RECOGNIZING CLINICAL &
FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING
A FULL RIS-PACS-REPORTING SOLUTION
Presenter Presenter Moderator
J.C. Biebuyck, MD Leah J. Denton, RT(R) Mary C. Tierney
Medical Director, CT Services Director, Diagnostic Imaging VP, Chief Content Officer,
Rutland Regional Medical Center Rutland Regional Medical Center TriMed Media Group
Rutland, Vermont Rutland, Vermont Providence, RI, USA

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3. RUTLAND REGIONAL
MEDICAL CENTER
• 75,000 patients treated per year
• 110 beds
• 80,000 exams per year
• CT, MR, X-ray, PET/CT, ultrasound, mammography,
bone densitometry, interventional radiology
• 80 employees in the Diagnostic Imaging Services
Department

4. TERTIARY SERVICES ARE LOCATED
WITHIN 60-70 MILE RANGE
• Small hospital with comprehensive services, including
surgical and medical practices
• Specialty surgery includes: ENT, Plastic surgery,
orthopedic surgery and OB/GYN
• Medical subspecialty care in cardiovascular imaging,
pulmonary, gastrointestinal, intensivists, hospitalists,
rheumatology, oncology & neurology
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5. TIGHTLY CONNECTED
RIS-PACS-REPORTING
• Utilizing GE Centricity RIS-IC and Precision Reporting
• Staff to monitor information from patient arrival
through report delivery
• Enables matching of the right patient, right data, right
images and right dictation
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6. EFFICIENT ACCESS FOR
PHYSICIANS FROM DISPARATE
SYSTEMS
• Clinical information moves from technologist to
radiologist instantly, providing precision reporting to
their reading station
• The system allows for efficient physician access to
images and information
• Efficient process has enhanced patient care
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7. CENTRICITY AT DEPARTMENT LEVEL
PROVIDES RADIOLOGIST WITH QUICK
TURN AROUND WITH MINIMAL STEPS
• The system allows for a unified vision of success and
quality and patient safety
• More efficient communication with radiology and staff
with fewer steps & interruptions – less duplication
• Referring physicians are very satisfied with depth and
breadth of information and timely reports
• Single-vendor RIS-PACS-reporting provides shorter
report turn-around times, gains in efficiency
7

8. SINGLE VENDOR SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR
OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING FOR
DEVELOPING PROCESSES FOR WORKFLOW
• Our practice attracts radiologists to participate
• Easy peer review & quality assurance  generate reports
• “People want to work here after they see the system we have”
• Workflow efficiencies, results provided real time
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9. WORK LIST IS PRIORITIZED –
PROVIDING LESS INTERRUPTION OF
WORKFLOW
• Radiologists use no paper
• Electronic organization for the radiologist and
technologist
• Cleaner workflow
• Precision reporting has cut down on
transcriptionist need
• Monitoring key indicators real time
• Correctionist cuts time; increases accuracy and
efficiency
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10. AUTOMATED SYSTEM HAS CODING
REQUIREMENTS EMBEDDED, SO THE
TECHNOLOGIST, REFERRING PHYSICIAN IS
EMPOWERED
• Clinical team effort
• Real-time worklist: Stat reads, ER needs, procedure
scheduling
• Fewer interruptions for radiologists
• Critical results reporting are fast, intensivists and ER
physicians have been very satisfied with the turn
around times
• Reports available minutes after scans
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11. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ARE
WELL DEFINED, CODING CALL BACKS
HAVE BEEN GREATLY REDUCED
• Quality is enhanced via clinical data included in
reports
• Operating in a proactive mode with regards to
reimbursement; contrast; dose
• RIS-PACS-Reporting solution has partnered us with
the financial department  more timely billing
• Real-time access creates a great bond with referring
physicians  team effort
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12. RADIOLOGISTS WANT EFFICIENCY,
SEAMLESS WORKFLOW
• Empowering radiologists with information for referring
physicians
• Quick critical test results management
• No downtime with system enhancements
• Tracking metrics, report turnaround times
• Cleaner workflow
• Better coding and billing
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13. ADDING VALUE TO SPECIALTY
READS
• Assist specialists
• Review image/s ASAP to make recommendations for
treatment, ie orthopedics
• PACS image  dislocation  advise PA on next
steps while looking at images
• Foster bonds between departments
13

14. RADIOLOGISTS RELY ON
TECHNOLOGY & TRANSPARENCY
• Technology needs to be seamless
• Radiologists need information delivered efficiently and
instantly
• Upgrades need to be automatic and invisible
• No downtime
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15. TRACKING KEY METRICS
• Radiologist productivity – annually
• Quality assurance cases
• Report turn-around time
• Precision reporting has brought excellent gains
15

16. TECHNOLOGIST PRODUCTIVITY
CAN BE BETTER MANAGED
• Agility in staffing changes – via time flow studies
• Clinical tools to track patients / quality tracker
• Track wait times by modality
• Managers have robust conversation’s with staff based
on actual data
• Assess and discuss workload
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17. TRACKING IMAGE QUALITY
• Folders in RIS/PACS
• Tag suboptimal exams for review with technologist for
QA
• Images for weekly and daily conferences
• Enables teaching moments
• Review with staff
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18. PRECISION REPORTING PROVIDES
COST SAVINGS WITH STAFFING
REDUCTIONS
• Reduced 2 FTEs in viewing room through attribution
• Precision Reporting enabled another 0.7 FTE
reduction
• Keep the technologist at the scanner
• Faster bed time turn-arounds
• Better patient scheduling
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19. RADIOLOGY BILLING IS VERY
QUICK & EFFICIENT
• Billing service has gone from 72 hours to 12 hours
• Radiologist’s efficiency, reporting to referring
physician is quick and easy
• Automated transcription, sign report instantly or send
to correctionist
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20. BIG ‘AH HA’ MOMENTS –
PRECISION REPORTING
• Smooth implementation
• 3-day adoption of radiologist self correction impresses
the management group
• Correctionist is key to formatting and imbedding
images
• Finished product is timely and accurate
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21. TECHNOLOGIST ADDING TO THE
QUALITY OF INFORMATION FOR
THE END PRODUCT
• Higher quality data
• Compliance is enhanced
• Part of a larger team – each having an impact
• Tracking patient population for protocol studies
• Add value without former resistance of staff
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22. ENHANCING CARE FOR PATIENTS
• The system is patient driven
• Physician’s time becomes more efficient
• Physician can focus on patient care and finding
disease, and make sure the referring physician is
getting information needed ASAP
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23. SPONSORED BY:
LIVE Q&A
Presenter Presenter Moderator
J.C. Biebuyck, MD Leah J. Denton, RT(R) Mary C. Tierney
Medical Director, CT Services Director, Diagnostic Imaging VP, Chief Content Officer,
Rutland Regional Medical Center Rutland Regional Medical Center TriMed Media Group
Rutland, Vermont Rutland, Vermont Providence, RI, USA