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What’s Happening in Your VAMHCS Neighborhood?
Creating the Radiology Reading Room of the Future
By Michael Dukes

The new reading room allows radiologists to work without distractions and the new workspace features individualized lighting and temperature controls.

Nearly 14 years after implementing the world’s first completely filmless radiology department using the Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS), the VAMHCS has again pushed the conventional limits of cutting-edge health care technology by creating the radiology reading room of the future.

The brainchild of VAMHCS Imaging chief Dr. Eliot Siegel and his associates, the radiology reading room of the future was designed to lower radiologists’ fatigue, increase productivity, enhance patient privacy, improve radiological diagnostics, and serve as a research platform.

The new reading room occupies a centralized location, where consolidated workstation design–moving from a four-monitor to a two-monitor workstation layout–and improved lighting and sound create a comfortable environment for radiologists to work and collaborate. Besides individualized lighting and temperature controls intended to reduce eyestrain and other environmental stressors, the room relies on the integration of information systems and improved workstation ergonomics to create a functional soft-copy reading environment that serves as part-research center, part-clinical working environment.

“We’ve learned a lot of lessons over the years,” explains Dr. Siegel. “Through extensive research and expert consultation, we have created a functional redesign of our former reading space that will serve as a model for others to follow.”

Previous filmless reading rooms used at the VAMHCS featured less than optimal lighting, seating and other ergonomics–all increasing the strain and fatigue of radiologists examining countless images each day. Many radiologists complained of neck, back, wrist and hand pain, as well as eyestrain. The environment was also noisy and poorly ventilated.

Designed as a living, breathing showcase for filmless radiology imaging and interpretation, the new reading room is intended to streamline the procedures and processes that impact the flow of treatment. Moreover, it enables radiologists to work as independently of distraction as possible, while at the same time encouraging collaboration with clinicians working both within and outside the radiology unit.

“Overall, this new reading environment will enhance the performance, accuracy, and productivity of radiologists,” said Dr. Siegel.