Effect of Day Optimizing Throughput (Dot) Knee Software Implementation on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Workflow Efficiency

Abstract

Purpose: Attempts by magnetic resonance (MR) manufacturers to help imaging centres improve patient throughput has led to the development of more automated acquisition. This software is capable of customizing individual scan alignment; potentially improving imaging efficiency and standardizing protocols. However, substantial investments are required to introduce such systems, potentially deterring their widespread application. This study assessed the implementation costs and reduction in examination durations for automated knee MR imaging (MRI) software. Materials and Methods: Research activities were performed at a community-based academic centre on a 3-Tesla (3-T) system using Siemens' Day Optimizing Throughput (Dot) knee software. Examination acquisition times were extracted from the system before and after software implementation. Fiscal year 2012/13 finances were used to determine the average hourly cost of MRI utilization. Costs associated with automated software implementation were also calculated. Finally, the number of knee scans required to achieve a positive return on investment using the software was established. Results and Discussion: The mean (standard deviation, sample size) pre-and post-Dot software scan times were 23.20 (4.18, n ¼ 266) and 21.94 (4.51, n ¼ 59) minutes, respectively, for a routine knee scan and 11.88 (1.60, n ¼ 74) and 11.24 (1.51, n ¼ 27) minutes, respectively, for a fast knee scan. The overall weighted average resulted in a 64-second time savings per automated knee examination. This negligible time savings would be extremely difficult to make use of clinically. Dot simplified 29 unique knee protocols to two, improving the consistency of knee examinations. Current Dot software is not compatible with all patients and therefore has limitations that are a concern among MR technologists. Conclusion: Adoption of automated knee systems could assist in standardizing protocols; however, the cost of implementation and difficulty in modifying patient scheduling to reflect the minimal time savings would make a financial return unlikely to occur at smalland medium-sized institutions. The author(s) has no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest to declare.

Free‐breathing accelerated whole‐body MRI using an automated workflow: Comparison with conventional breath‐hold sequences

“…Integrated Dot engines allow for accelerated and standardized investigations by providing special automated guidance in the planning of whole-body MR examinations. 15,16,55 In particular, inexperienced users might profit and work faster through partial workflow automatization compared with conventional software packages. In our study, the overall difference between both MR acquisition techniques was 7 min (p < 0.0001), which highlights its usefulness in daily clinical routines.…”

“…Integrated Dot engines allow for accelerated and standardized investigations by providing special automated guidance in the planning of whole‐body MR examinations 15,16,55 . In particular, inexperienced users might profit and work faster through partial workflow automatization compared with conventional software packages.…”

Feasibility and impact of using an automated user interface for proton spectroscopy in multiparametric MRI of the prostate

“…Our results prove that this time delay is omitted using an automated planning algorithm allowing an examination time reduction of about 20%. On the other hand, it has been shown that a computer-assisted interface in a straightforward knee examination does not provide any significant time reduction [25]. However, the authors still assume that the avoidance of operator errors and even a minimal nonsignificant time saving per exam would make a financial return by the end of the day likely to occur.…”