PACS training modules at Texas Children's Hospital

In 1999, the Performance Improvement Committee of the Diagnostic Imaging Services of Texas Children's Hospital identified the need for smoother integration of the picture archiving and communications system (PACS) technology into the workflow of the rest of the department. An effort was then launched to document prevalent issues, as well as to define the processes needed to implement a department-wide program to acquaint the staff with this new technology. The department's application trainer, with the guidance of the Performance Improvement Committee, spearheaded the design and implementation of the PACS training program and has continued to develop it during the past 2 years. This article describes the format and components of the PACS training modules now in use, and details some of the positive effects of this effort.