Biomedical subjects

K H Glaser

Publications and source records attributed to K H Glaser.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

Guidelines for cost-effective implementation of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems. An approach building on practical experiences in three European hospitals.

This paper describes a comprehensive approach for the assessment of the impact of (partial) Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS). The approach is developed, based on actual clinical experience in three European hospitals and tested in these environments. The approach departs from a thorough analysis of the working procedures and information flows before implementation, both descriptive and quantitative. On the basis of this analysis, quantitative (and hence testable) objectives of the implementation are defined. The implementation strategy is defined after comparison of various scenarios, taking costs and effects for both the final and the transition phases into account. The approach is supported by a comprehensive evaluation protocol and a software package (PACER). The approach is demonstrated in this paper by applying it on a hypothetical PACS implementation for CT, ultrasound and for the part of the radiology department serving ICU. The objectives of this PACS are: (1)--to shorten the turn around time between the radiology department and ICU from 4 h to 30 min, (2)--to save 2000 m2 of film per year and (3)--to save personnel time. In this case the PACS is introduced in three phases and completed after three years. The cost analysis shows that, if started in 1995, a financial break even point is reached after 6 years, when comparing costs for the film-based system with those of the PACS. Experiences in the three sites show that the approach helps to harvest potential benefits, allowing a cost-effective implementation of PACS.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

PubMed1994

[Effect of ambient lighting on the diagnostic efficiency of display screen workplaces].

The aim of our study was to determine the influence of ambient lighting conditions on the diagnostic performance when using digital reporting work-stations. We acquired 15 normal and 30 fractured porcine femurs using a storage phosphor system. All images were demonstrated on a high-quality image display under optimised (128 lx) and non-optimised (450 lx) ambient lighting conditions and on a conventional viewing-box under non-optimised conditions (450 lx). Results were analysed using ROC-statistics. The area under the ROC-curve was 0.895 for optimised conditions and 0.684 for non-optimised conditions using digital displays and 0.849 for the conventional viewing-box. The difference in diagnostic performance between optimised and non-optimised conditions using a digital display was highly significant (p < 0.001). Our results emphasise the importance of adequate surrounding lighting conditions for radiologic diagnostic performance, particularly for the use of digital reporting consoles.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

[Fracture diagnosis with digital luminescence radiography].

Conventional screen-film radiographs were compared with storage phosphorus images concerning diagnostic performance in traumatologic radiography. We used an image pool of 106 radiographs including 50 conventionally and 56 digitally recorded images. The images were reviewed by four experienced radiologists. Detectability of fractures was coded in a five-point scale of confidence and analysed by ROC statistics. Furthermore the image quality and the optical density was compared. Digital images are superior under difficult exposure conditions and offer advantages by additional image processing and documentation. For some indications (follow-up, functional examination), reduced x-ray exposure is tolerable. The detectability of subtle lesions, which is essential for the primary diagnosis of fractures was significantly better by conventional radiography.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

PubMed1990

[Premedication with triazolam].

The suitability of triazolam for oral premedication was evaluated in comparison to flunitrazepam. 65 consenting female patients scheduled for gynaecological surgery took part in the trial, were randomly allocated in two groups and were given 0.5 mg triazolam or 2 mg of flunitrazepam as oral premedication 90 min preoperatively. No difference was found in the anxiolytic potency (possible difference d = 0.65 standard deviation, less than 3 points on the anxiety score). Both drugs significantly reduced anxiety (alpha less than 0.01). Anxiolysis depended on the initial anxiety; the higher the initial anxiety score, the better the anxiolytic effect. Triazolam was found to have an antidepressant effect (alpha less than 0.05) and asthenic affects decreased (n.s.). Flunitrazepam had a tendency to increase depression (n.s.) and asthenic effects increased (alpha less than 0.05). No differences were found in the degree of sedation and in the amnestic effect. Systolic pressure remained unchanged in both groups, whereas values of diastolic pressure increased to the same extent in both groups. While heart rate increased after triazolam, it decreased after flunitrazepam. Both groups had comparable initial heart rates. Possible mechanisms to explain this discordance of heart rate-changes are discussed. Triazolam is comparable to flunitrazepam as an oral premedicant and is a suitable drug for short surgical procedures if rapid postoperative recovery is required.

Adult↗