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Fifty per cent increase in cardiac patient throughput and better utilisation of staff in the imaging department at Bournemouth

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has increased the scanning speed of its MRI system, raising patient throughput by 50 per cent. In a study, a prototype Day optimising throughput (Dot) solution from Siemens Healthcare was added to the hospital’s MAGNETOM Avanto MRI to accelerate power and increase productivity, resulting in six cardiac patients to be scanned in a four hour session rather than the four previously.

Staff capability has also increased from 20 per cent to 100 per cent for complex cardiac procedures. Utilisation of every member of staff in the department to perform at the same standard means that historically difficult cardiac examinations can be incorporated into the general workload of a busy general hospital rather than having to have dedicated slots when the necessary skilled staff members are available.

Siemens ’ Dot, now available on the recently launched MAGNETOM Aera 1.5T and Skyra 3T MRI systems, optimises the patient examination strategy, automating the steps needed to get a high quality scan and adapting to the patient’s condition. It guides radiology staff through each step required, even in the most complicated examinations. This speeds up standard scans with fewer errors or the need for repeats, plus it intelligently advises in more complicated cases.

“Our patient population is almost exclusively adult and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is carried out frequently to provide structural and functional information, particularly for planning revascularisation strategies in patients with known coronary artery disease. This information is then used for planning ways to restore blood flow. The complexity of procedures and the lack of familiarity with cardiac anatomy presented major issues in staff resource allocation and training,” states Dr. Russell Bull, Consultant Radiologist at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital. “Using the Dot software the most difficult MR examination has become much more straightforward and even relatively inexperienced staff members are now able to scan cardiac patients quickly and efficiently. Today, all 16 of our scanning staff perform cardiac examinations compared with just three people before.”

The improved throughput makes the patient experience more positive as they spend less time in the scanner, which can sometimes cause feelings of claustrophobia. It also benefits The Royal Bournemouth Hospital by helping it meet its departmental objectives.

“The number of referrals from cardiologists to the hospital has also increased due to the speed at which we can scan patients. Patients given the choice would rather be in and out the door in half an hour than a more lengthy procedure at alternative facilities. This is a positive reflection on the Trust’s reputation and positions the hospital’s imaging service as highly competitive,” states Dr. Bull.

“The number of patients that hospitals expect to see over the coming years for cardiac MRI is increasing. The need for fast and accurate cardiac scanning facilities is high, to identify conditions early and minimise the impact on the long-term health economy,” said David Wilkins, National Sales Manager at Siemens Healthcare. “An increase in CMR capacity by a cost effective technology upgrade to the existing scanner means that more patients can be seen during the working day. This exciting technology has the potential to be a source of additional revenue for the Trust plus staff resources are also better utilised by the automation of clinical procedures guaranteeing a better result first time.”

The Dot workflow engine can power productivity beyond cardiac cases as it is available for other body regions. Combined with Tim (Total imaging matrix) technology for powerful generation of superb image quality, the Dot workflow engine, offers guidance and automated workflows, helping standardise complex MRI exams irrespective of patient condition or radiographer resource level available.

Source: Siemens Healthcare