A study of photoelectronic-digital radiology—Part I: The photoelectronic-digital radiology department

A three-part study presents the concepts, costs, and basic considerations involved in photoelectronic-digital radiology. This new approach to diagnostic radiology eliminates film as the primary image acquisition medium. It provides an attractive opportunity to develop new diagnostic procedures, be cost effective, and improve on diagnostic accuracy. Part I explores the concept as applied to our thirteen-room radiology department. Part II deals with cost effectiveness, and Part III is concerned with engineering of photoelectronic-digital radiology systems. Part I identifies five organizational units requiring individual attention. They are: 1) examination rooms and their analog image acquisition devices, 2) a computer facility incorporating digital image acquistion, processing, and archival storage, 3) a reading room, 4) offices and clinics, and 5) a possible control center. Features desired for each unit's components are identified and discussed. Areas of strength and weakness, as well as those attractive for new activity in research and development, are delineated.