Redesigning the PACS reading room: optimizing monitor and room lighting

Bruce I. Reiner; Eliot L. Siegel; Bill Rostenberg

doi:10.1117/12.352756

18 July 1999 Redesigning the PACS reading room: optimizing monitor and room lighting

Bruce I. Reiner, Eliot L. Siegel, Bill Rostenberg

Proceedings Volume 3662, Medical Imaging 1999: PACS Design and Evaluation: Engineering and Clinical Issues; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.352756
Event: Medical Imaging '99, 1999, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Room design can have a major on radiologist productivity in a soft-copy reading environment. Several factors must be taken into account to optimize the radiologist's reading room, including lighting. The purpose of this study was to utilize the result of pervious research on the effect of ambient light on operator fatigue, to make specific design recommendations to enhance radiologist productivity in a filmless reading environment. One hundred musculoskeletal exams were interpreted by four radiologists, experienced with PACS, using a 2.0K X 1.6K four-monitor workstation. Radiologists were asked to provide subjective levels of fatigue during the reading sessions with varying levels of ambient light. Participating radiologists were surveyed as to specific factors contributing to fatigue in the current room design and asked to make recommendations to enhance productivity. The architectural literature was reviewed and specific modifications to reading room design were proposed to optimize lighting conditions in a filmless environment. Quantitative data demonstrated lower levels of ambient light optimized radiologist productivity in soft-copy interpretation by increasing interpretation accuracy and reducing levels of operator fatigue. A number of recommendations to further enhance room design were identified through radiologist surveys and review of the literature including use of separate task lighting, antiglare filters, neutral-colored surfaces, and partitions to separate individual workstations. Task lighting can be utilized in either a fixed or movable form, and be controlled by the radiologist through use of a dimmer. Design considerations of the PACS reading room are an important determinant of technology acceptance, overall work quality, and radiologist productivity. While considered by some to be a 'minor detail' in overall design, lighting plays a major role in productivity, and should be considered when designing the 'ideal PACS reading room'.

Citation Download Citation

Bruce I. Reiner, Eliot L. Siegel, and Bill Rostenberg "Redesigning the PACS reading room: optimizing monitor and room lighting", Proc. SPIE 3662, Medical Imaging 1999: PACS Design and Evaluation: Engineering and Clinical Issues, (18 July 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.352756

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