Mater puts X-rays on computer

THE days of viewing fractures and broken bones on film are numbered, following the introduction of a computerised imaging system by the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

The system, which was brought into operation last night, enables X-ray images to be called up on computer and made available to all hospital departments within minutes.

The hospital says the new digital medical imaging system has revolutionised patient care, being cheaper to operate and more accurate. Since there is less need for repeating X-rays, the patient is exposed to lower doses of radiation.

The system, which is based on reusable phosphor plates, is expected to save the Mater £100,000 a year. Once the X-rays are taken, they are scanned and transferred to the hospital's information network. The radiologist's analysis and report is then available, typically within 10 minutes.

"Using traditional methods the only way of achieving this response time is to have a radiologist available in the hospital ward all the time," said Mr Gerry Hurl, head of information services at the Mater.

Traditional X-ray films cannot be reused, they degrade and they can only be viewed at one location at a time. Using the new system, the image can be enlarged, reduced and compared with others in the library.

Developed jointly by the Mater and Shared Medical Systems, a US corporation, the new technology has been piloted in the hospital over the past 18 months.