Radiological mass casualty incident (MCI) workflow analysis: single-centre data of a mid-scale exercise

Area of Science:

• Medical imaging
• Radiology
• Emergency medicine

Background:

• Mass casualty incidents (MCIs) present unique challenges for healthcare systems.
• Efficient radiological workflow is critical for timely patient management during MCIs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and interpret radiological workflow data from a simulated mass casualty incident.
• To identify bottlenecks and evaluate the efficiency of CT scanning processes in an MCI setting.

Main Methods:

• A mid-scale MCI exercise was conducted, involving 11 simulated trauma cases.
• Two multislice CT scanners were utilized to simulate realistic workflow and service chain processes.
• Key time intervals for CT acquisition, image transfer, and archiving were meticulously measured.

Main Results:

• Average CT in-room time was 9.43 minutes, with a pure scan time of 4.22 minutes.
• Initial image availability at a dedicated workstation was 5.85 minutes, and institution-wide via PACS was 7.85 minutes.
• The complete PACS archiving process extended to 20.85 minutes, indicating a significant delay.

Conclusions:

• CT scanners can potentially manage up to six patients per hour using standard polytrauma protocols.
• Dedicated CT triage protocols may further enhance patient throughput.
• Significant delays in image availability at endpoints necessitate workflow improvements to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.