Time requirements of hard- versus soft-copy interpretation of SICU computed radiographic images

The Brooke Army Medical Center PACS was used to produce paired hard copy and soft copy interpretations of computed radiography images of SICU patients for eight days. There was no statistical difference in the time spent setting up and reading hard copy vs. the setup and reading time for soft copy interpretation. The time required for the radiologists to display and read the soft copy studies was 33% longer than the time required to view and interpret the same hard copy studies which had been previously placed on a film rotator.