Abstract

Today, healthcare providers are faced with the decision of how to perform diagnostic imaging services with respect to continuing with traditional film-based imaging techniques or converting to digital imaging technology. This research focuses on the multifactor operational aspects of the diagnostic imaging system, and evaluates the effect that film or digital based imaging have on operational performance, productivity, and quality of patient care. That is, the time the patient spends in the system, the number of diagnostic imaging procedures performed per week and machine utilization. The goal of this research is to provide a quantitative analysis of film-based versus digital diagnostic imaging systems from an operational perspective in order to aid healthcare providers in their decisions with regard to diagnostic imaging technology. This involves using simulation to design an operationally efficient digital diagnostic imaging system, performing a quantitative comparison of film-based and the most efficient digital diagnostic imaging system, and conducting a case study of the Diagnostic Imaging Department at F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, New York to validate experiments and to aid the hospital in reorganizing workflow as they switch from film to digital imaging. Based on the results of these experiments and case study, healthcare providers will be better able to decide upon an appropriate diagnostic imaging technology and system configuration that will attain high performance in terms of productivity and the quality of care provided to their patients.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Diagnostic imaging; Diagnostic imaging--Digital techniques

Publication Date

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Industrial and Systems Engineering (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Industrial and Systems Engineering (KGCOE)

Advisor

Michael Kuhl

Advisor/Committee Member

Elisabeth Hager

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at RC78.7.D53 S56 2004

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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