Development and implementation of the Veterans Administration's multihospital radiology information system

Unknown to most radiology professionals, the Veterans Administration (VA) is implementing an automated radiology information system as an integrated component of its Decentralized Hospital Computer Program. The basic design has been evaluated and refined over the past 5 years. It is now becoming available in all 172 VA medical facilities. Radiology services are provided in a complex management and fiscal environment. The primary purpose of the information system is to improve the efficient processing, performance, and reporting of requests for radiologic consultations and procedures. The automatic capturing of demographic and medical statistics will provide local and national managers more complete data with which to plan future financial, equipment, and personnel requirements. The VA radiology module has the potential to influence the shape of all future systems, commercial and public. This report describes the development of this radiology information system, its current status, and its potential impact on the largest health care system in the country. The module serves as an example of what can or should be expected from the radiology portion of a comprehensive medical information management system.