While the implementation of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) has revolutionized the field of radiology, there has been considerably less utilization of PACS by emergency physicians with point-of-care ultrasound. Benefits of PACS archival of images include improved quality assurance, preservation of image quality, and accessibility of images. Our objective was to determine if a simple interventional program would influence the utilization of PACS in point-of-care ultrasound. A before-after study was conducted in an urban, academic emergency department. Data was collected during a 4-week baseline period, a 12-week intervention period, and a 12-week post-intervention period. The percentage of ultrasound studies archived to PACS was recorded during each week of the study. Interventions were designed to encourage the utilization of PACS. A significant increase in the mean percentage of PACS studies was found between the baseline and intervention period (59.4 %; 95 % CI: 34.76-84.08 %; p < 0.001). Mean percentage of PACS studies at 1-month (74.3 %), 2-month (61.0 %), and 3-month (74.8 %) post-intervention periods remained elevated and were all significantly increased compared to baseline values (p < 0.001). Mean percentages of PACS studies at 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month post-intervention periods were not statistically significant from the intervention period (p = 0.977, p = 0.849, p = 0.967, respectively). A simple interventional program for emergency physicians can significantly increase and sustain the utilization of PACS for point-of-care ultrasound.
Keywords: Emergency ultrasound; Imaging informatics; PACS; Point-of-care ultrasound.