Implementation of a Web-based teleradiology management system

Five Queensland hospitals have been equipped with picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). Patient transfers from one facility to another involve transferring images from PACS to PACS. We have developed a Web-based teleradiology management system (TMS) that automates the transfer of images and radiologists' reports, as well as the quality control and housekeeping associated with teleradiology. The TMS was installed at all five hospitals. During a two-month study period, 752 studies were transmitted. All studies and associated radiologists' reports arrived correctly at the destination hospital, together with the notification email for the system administrators. PACS support personnel agreed that the TMS significantly reduced the amount of time they spent on image transfers. Staff at the busiest site estimated that the time they spent on image transfer had decreased from 10 h per week to 1 h per week.