Technical requirements and optimization strategies for home-based teleradiology workstations: a review article.

Abstract

Teleradiology has advanced from an occasional modality to a cornerstone of modern radiology practice, with the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzing widespread adoption of home-based reading environments. This review synthesizes current literature and expert recommendations on hardware and software optimization for effective home-based teleradiology implementation. Available data indicate 65% of institutions established home workstations during the pandemic, with 74% transitioning routine daytime shifts to internal teleradiology. We reviewed key components of successful remote reading environments, including diagnostic display specifications, environmental controls, ergonomic considerations, computational infrastructure, and network architecture. Evidence suggests that properly configured remote workstations maintain diagnostic performance equivalent to hospital reading rooms while enhancing radiologist satisfaction and productivity. We found that 65% of radiologists reported reduced stress levels when working from home, and 96% observed similar or improved report turnaround times. Essential technical specifications include display luminance standards, ambient lighting levels between 25 and 75 lux, acoustic conditions below 40 decibels, and temperature control within 20-24 °C. Computational requirements include a minimum sustained bandwidth of 50-100 Mbps. We review multi-layered security architectures and workflow integration strategies supporting distributed reading environments. Our review concludes that properly implemented home-based teleradiology is a viable practice model extending specialized expertise across geographic boundaries while promoting radiologist well-being. However, knowledge gaps remain in technical standardization, regulatory harmonization, and long-term clinical outcomes, underscoring the need for further research to support confident, data-driven teleradiology implementation. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This review critically evaluates the technical, ergonomic, and operational requirements for home-based teleradiology, offering evidence-based recommendations that address current practice gaps and support the development of sustainable, high-performance remote reading environments in modern clinical radiology. KEY POINTS: Home teleradiology maintains diagnostic quality while improving radiologist well-being; 65% report reduced stress and 96% show similar or improved report turnaround times. Optimal implementation requires medical-grade displays, a controlled environment (25-75 lux lighting), 50-100 Mbps bandwidth, and robust security measures. Standardization varies across jurisdictions; some countries have protocols, but gaps persist in cross-border teleradiology and long-term outcomes assessment.