Little Rock–based Ortho Arkansas is the paragon of a bustling orthopedic practice. With 24 physicians — including 20 orthopedic surgeons, a hand specialist, a rheumatologist, a spine surgeon, a neurologist and a pain management specialist — staffing three permanent clinics and several satellite clinics, the group handles its fair share of imaging. But until December of 2010, the practice’s main Little Rock clinic was entirely analog. “It was the right time for us to go digital,” says Kay Hoke, RT(R). “We’re increasing our practice, and we needed to be faster and more efficient, and to be able to move images between our clinics.”

Ortho Arkansas’ conversion to digital began with the implementation of two Fujifilm Carbon X readers for their CR rooms and a PACS from Fujifilm Medical Systems USA. Six weeks afterward, a Fujifilm FDR D-EVO Suite room was also added. “There was already a huge difference in the flow of the department when we got the two CRs,” Hoke recalls. “But when we added the DR as well, it changed everything.”

Prior to the installation of the CR rooms, Hoke says, “We were always behind in the x-ray department. We do about 125 patients’ images a day, and it was really hard for us to keep up.” The addition of the Fuji CR rooms and the PACS system eliminated time-consuming paperwork, enabling Ortho’s staff to streamline its workflow. “Then, when we went to the FDR D-EVO Suite it really helped pick up the slack,” Hoke says. “We don’t get behind anymore, even though we do the same number of patients, and soon we’ll be doing a lot more. The whole department is different.”

For Ortho’s technologists, Hoke says, the improvement has been incredible. “It used to be the technologists never sat down. They never got a break,” she says. “Everything’s a lot more laid-back and quiet now. We’re not as tired at the end of the day, and sometimes we can’t believe how many patients we did.”

The image preview capabilities of the new x-ray rooms eliminate another common workflow issue for technologists, as well as additional radiation exposure for patients: retakes of unusable images. “We very rarely repeat a film now,” Hoke says. “The DR is so quick — I can glance at the image and make sure the technique was okay, and I know when I’m on the right track. Before, you might do a full series before you knew there was a problem. It really decreases the amount of time spent, and it definitely decreases the radiation dose patients receive.”

In some cases, the patients seen at the orthopedic practice can represent unique workflow challenges. As an example, Hoke cites new rheumatology patients, who require 12 films in different positions. “We used to have to move the panel three times to image a rheumatology patient,” she says. “With two detectors in our D-EVO suite, we don’t have to move it at all. And the panels are so much lighter when we do need to move them. The heavier it is, the more afraid you are you’re going to drop it.”

The workflow benefits extend to the clinicians in the practice as well. “Since we installed the DR room, the doctors are more likely to be finished with their clinic on time,” Hoke notes. “They don’t get behind because they’re waiting on the patients’ x-rays. If they’re in a hurry to get to surgery, we can get the patient through right away for them. Some of the doctors are seeing more patients now because they have more
time. I haven’t had one complaint about waiting for x-rays since we went digital — they’re really happy with it.”

In the future, Hoke says, Ortho plans to further leverage its new digital imaging capabilities during patient consultations. “The doctors love the images, and soon they’re going to start using iPads to show patients their x-rays,” she says. “I can’t even comprehend what it would be like not to have these capabilities. Our building is 55,000 square feet, and I can’t believe one room has changed our facility’s capabilities so much. It’s just one little machine, but it makes a huge difference.”