A comparison of film-screen, CR and DR: a community hospital time-motion study

The purpose of this study was to compare technologist efficiency for conventional radiography, computed radiography (CR) and direct radiography (DR) for two types of general x-ray examinations. The study was performed at St. Joseph's Health Centre, in Toronto, Canada. The study spanned eight calendar months. Two views of the chest and three views of the ankle were chosen as representative examinations for analysis. Patient examination times were recorded on the radiology information system for both types of studies for conventional radiography, CR and DR. There was a significant difference in average time of examination for all three types of imaging formats for chest studies and between conventional radiography and CR or DR for ankle radiographs. There was no significant difference between examination times for ankle studies when CR and DR were compared. The median time of examination of the chest was 18 minutes, eight minutes and six minutes for conventional radiography, CR and DR respectively. The median time of examination for ankle radiographs were 22 minutes, seven minutes and five minutes for conventional radiography, CR and DR respectively. Technologists efficiency is significantly improved with the implementation of a DR system and CR system when compared to conventional radiography. DR may not deliver significant improvements in efficiencies for certain types of examinations.