Radiology film-management systems at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center

An accurate and efficient x-ray film-retrieval service was needed in the radiology department at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. In July 1986, the radiology department implemented the radiology film-management system in concert with the surgery department. The centralized radiology film files were replaced by service bins, each containing all inpatient films for a specified surgical service. Physician waiting time, clerical work load, and the number of lost and misplaced films have been reduced, and cost savings to date is $840,000. By mid-1988, the system had been expanded to accommodate more than 90% of radiology users.