WUTH deploys Phillips PACS to improve medical imaging efficiency

Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) has recently introduced Phillips PACS, an advanced medical imaging system aimed at keeping the hospital up to date with technology and enhancing efficiency for the benefit of both patients and staff.

The project to upgrade the system was initiated in 2021, with the installation of hardware servers and network infrastructure necessary for the implementation of the new software.

Between January 2022 and February 2023, the project team successfully migrated 4.2 million images of historic study data to the Philips Vue PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). In March 2023, the entire hospital staff made the transition to the new system, ensuring that all new images are instantly accessible and shared within each patient's record.

PACS is a medical imaging technology primarily used in healthcare organisations to securely store and digitally transmit electronic images and clinically relevant reports.

The implementation of a robust system is crucial for seamless sharing of diagnostic images across WUTH, as well as with other healthcare institutions in Cheshire and Merseyside, enabling all care teams to access imaging data of patients from the region.

Dr. Simon Lea, Associate Medical Director of Clinical Support and Diagnostics, expressed his satisfaction with the migration to the Phillips Carestream platform, which aligns WUTH with the rest of the Mersey region. He noted that the system is familiar to junior colleagues who rotate through different trusts, enabling them to quickly access imaging and reports for their patients. The global work list functionality allows clinicians to view images from scans conducted elsewhere without delays, resulting in more timely and seamless diagnoses. Radiology colleagues are now equipped with the most up-to-date PACS viewer, contributing to improved quality and efficiency.

Other regions in England, including the West Midlands, have also deployed PACS systems, such as the four pathology networks in the area.

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