Integration of a personal computer workstation and radiology information system for obstetric sonography

A personal computer workstation has been developed for storage and analysis of obstetric sonographic examinations. The workstation also serves as an interactive data terminal for our radiology information system. A data-base management program locally stores quantitative and descriptive sonographic results. Algorithms are used to analyze growth parameters over serial examinations, plot growth curves, generate a radiologic report, and provide instantaneous diagnostic assistance and suggestions. A bibliographic data-base system containing more than 3000 references (with abstracts) in the obstetric sonographic literature is integrated with the software's analytical functions. A telecommunications software module performs dialogues, such as immediate automatic transcription of the sonographic report, with the radiology information system. An examination summary form, growth curves, and the radiologist's report can be printed or digitally faxed by the workstation after authorization by the radiologist. The workstation has improved the organization of sonographic data, facilitated serial quantitative analysis, supplemented educational resources for our staff radiologists and residents, reduced transcription errors and transcription delays, and shortened to minutes the time necessary to deliver precise examination results to clinicians. This model is suitable for use in many areas in a radiology department.