December 2002

Features

Cover Story

	PACS Lessons Learned at the Baltimore VA
	by Rich Smith
	It would be a challenge to find a pair of radiologists with more practical experience with PACS than Eliot L. Siegel, MD, and Bruce I. Reiner, MD, at Baltimore's VA Medical Center.

	10 Fallacies About CR
	by Charles E. Willis PhD
	In addressing what it takes to produce high-quality computed radiography images, the author dispels commonly held CR fallacies


	Printing in the Soft-Copy Era
	by George Wiley
	In the soft-copy environment, assessing and addressing film printing needs remains a complicated process that demands attention to detail.

Departments

	Viewpoint
	To Do: 2003
	by Cheryl Proval
	Issues unresolved in 2002 provide radiology with a blueprint for action in 2003.


	Guest Editorial
	Taking the Fire Out of Firefighting
	by Paul Nagy PhD
	The author describes a home-grown method of supplying IT support to radiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin.


	STAT Read
	by Ben Van Houten
	Study links PACS with increase in incidental findings on lumbar spinal MRI; a new leadership manual is published


	Imaging Business
	HIPAA and the Radiology Practice
	by Patricia Kroken
	As the April 2003 deadline for compliance with the Privacy Standards approaches, the hour of reckoning is near for radiology practices.


	Technology Economics Review
	QC of Medical Image Displays
	by David Hirschorn MD
	Maintaining proper monitor luminance is critical to the integrity of a soft-copy reading environment.


	Technology Review

Special Section

	Strategic Integration: Maximizing information-technology investment while enhancing patient care
	by Milan DiPierro


	Real-World Integration
	by Jim Herrewynen
	The best hope for health care institutions to achieve integration in a heterogenous environment is an effective integration strategy.


	The Role of Standards in Integration
	by Herman Oosterwijk
	In describing the state of integration today, the author identifies seven levels of integration.


	Step-by-Step Integration
	by Jim Herrewynen
	Attention to standards minimizes risk and discourages the disruption of clinical services during the integration process.


	Case Study: Ohio State University
	by Rich Smith
	By building an IT department with hand-picked clinicians, choosing a PACS with open architecture, and customizing as little as possible, Ohio State University is close to eliminating film.


	IHE: Year-4 Additions and Extensions
	by David S. Channin MD
	In year 4, IHE both has added to the infrastructure that will facilitate the extension of IHE to areas outside radiology, and, within radiology, extended the radiologic work flow process.