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EIZO LCD Monitors Contribute to Improved Diagnostic Imaging and Higher Quality Medical Services Yuuai MediCorp Tomishiro Central Hospital of Okinawa, Japan is nationally acclaimed for its orthopedic surgery department, fertility clinic, and lifestyle-related diseases treatment center. It provides a wide range of high quality medical services, treating more than 1,200 outpatients every day. One of the main features of the hospital is convenient access to electronic patient charts and softcopy diagnostic images throughout the hospital through a comprehensive PACs (Picture Archiving and Communication System). For its image display needs, the hospital relies on the FA-2090 (107 units) - an EIZO RadiForce model designed for diagnostic imaging, the FlexScan L355 (101 units), and the FlexScan L465 (9 units). |
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The hospital was quick to introduce a computerized ordering system and digitize diagnostic images to enhance its medical environment. Mr. Kenji Setsuda, general manager of the IT Support Project Promotion Department, who presided over the introduction of the system, says, "Our hospital's philosophy is 'Return all profits to the local community.' In other words, the compensation we receive for providing medical care we would like to invest in medical equipment and recruiting good personnel to improve services for our patients and the community." |
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Digitization Reduces Costs, Improves Efficiency. One of the investments Tomishiro Central Hospital has made is the digitization of images. This eliminates film storage costs and time spent on developing and transferring conventional hardcopy images. The hospital has also focused on improving work efficiency. With 1,200 outpatients per day, the hospital performs a large number of examinations. Writing reports for all the images was extremely difficult for the two radiologists on staff. A more efficient way was to let the doctors themselves write comments on the images. The hospital then implemented a system where doctors could search for and view digital images in examination rooms and any other location where such images might need to be accessed. |
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EIZO Monitors - Easy on the Eyes The introduction to the market of high-definition monitors suitable for displaying diagnostic images was the catalyst for the hospital to seriously consider digitization. The hospital chose EIZO after comparing models from several different manufacturers. "We went with EIZO monitors because of their suitability for displaying diagnostic images, stability in portrait mode, and fast drawing speed. Our doctors spend several hours a day viewing images on-screen so it is important that they do not experience any eye stress," says Mr. Setsuda. EIZO monitors have been very well received by the doctors. |
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Comprehensive Access to Diagnostic Images and Electronic Medical Charts In addition to the radiology reading room and outpatient examination rooms, an image accessing system has been installed in operating rooms, the nurses stations, conference rooms, and other places so that high definition images can be accessed from virtually anywhere in the hospital. The total number of EIZO monitors deployed exceeds 200 units, with the 3 megapixel FA-2090 used for viewing medical images and the 15" FlexScan L355 for electronic medical charts. Mr. Setsuda says, "I feel our longstanding efforts on digitization have finally born fruit." Regarding future additions to the hospital's infrastructure, Mr. Setsuda commented, "We're preparing for the introduction of PET, something still uncommon in Japan. Also, everyone on staff from the chairman on down would like to strengthen our collaboration with other local hospitals and continue our efforts to further enhance our medical environment." |
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