Children’s Health System – a network of facilities throughout Alabama, USA, including the children’s hospital located in Birmingham – worked together with industry partners to develop a proactive approach to digital image management and efficient workflow. Armed with a radiology information system (RIS) and picture archiving and communication system (PACS) from Siemens and an information infrastructure from EMC Corporation, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital has accelerated and improved patient care, cut costs, and reduced report turnaround time from an average of 24 hours to less than four hours. These convincing results were achieved in part thanks to the transition from Siemens SIENET Magic to the integrated-workflow IT solution syngo® Suite.

As an integrated, web-enabled RIS/PACS platform, syngo Suite combines syngo Workflow (RIS) and syngo Imaging (PACS) to establish a solid foundation for efficient workflow, improved communication and reporting, scaleable storage, and disaster recovery. The solution helped create value-added imaging, meaning the software aids radiologists in providing a higher level of service to specialists, clinicians, and patients. Stuart Royal, MD, (on the left) Chief of Radiology, reports, “syngo Suite is so customizable and flexible. We’re confident that we can use the software to answer any business requirement including specific documentation or tracking needs.” He credits the integrated RIS/PACS model with a 40* percent increase in efficiency among radiologists.

However, the improvements of fast image retrieval, shorter report turnaround time, six-figure cost-savings, and an overall higher level of clinical service, did not just come overnight. The hospital invited Siemens to do a Volume Analysis Report focused on optimizing the RIS/PACS and RIS-driven workflow. “During the three-day visit, the Siemens team reviewed all aspects of the digital image management process: volume, throughput, and the archive and data center. Next, the team provided specific feedback on what was needed to optimize the system,” said PACS Administrator Lynn Odom (on the right). The report supported the team in pinpointing specific areas that needed improvement and served as a framework for planning the next generation PACS.