Ten years after deploying IntelePACS from Intelerad Medical Systems, radiologists at Montreal Children’s Hospital continue to leverage the solution’s optimized workflows, universal access and rich feature set to deliver the highest levels of patient care.
About Montreal Children's Hospital
Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) has been providing pediatric healthcare services since 1904. Today, as part of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), it serves a metropolitan area of nearly four million people, and treats additional patients from across the province and beyond.
Recognized as a pioneer in research and patient care for over a hundred years, MCH is known for medical breakthroughs. The first procedure in Canada to repair a congenital heart defect was performed at MCH, as was Canada’s first CT scan in a pediatric setting. MCH was also the first pediatric hospital in Canada to offer intra-operative MRI.
At MCH, leveraging technology and staying at the forefront of new technological developments is a high priority. This emphasis is central to the hospital’s dual focus on research and delivering superior clinical care in numerous specialty areas.
Deployment of IntelePACS Leads to Optimized Workflow
To support an MCH initiative to become a paperless institution, the hospital’s radiology department required a solution that would enable them to transition from film-based imaging. As a result, the department selected Intelerad’s IntelePACS, a highly scalable, enterprise-level system for the seamless archiving, distributing, and secure sharing of images and reports.
Deployed by MCH in 2004, IntelePACS has had an enormous impact on improving patient care, far beyond the obvious advantages of digital vs. film-based imaging. MCH has leveraged IntelePACS to implement a customized workflow that has transformed the way the radiology department operates, vastly reducing turnaround time and greatly increasing efficiency.
“The key to our success has been the steady, continuous workflow that IntelePACS provides us,” said Manon Leclair, PACS Administrator at MCH. “The solution has also enabled us to analyze and re-analyze each step of our workflow to determine the best opportunities for improving and enhancing our processes. Ultimately, IntelePACS enables us to provide superior patient care.”
Integration with Other Systems a Key Advantage
IntelePACS provides a critical technology backbone for MCH. The system integrates with other Intelerad solutions, such as InteleViewer or InteleConnect, as well as with third-party systems. “It is a great asset for IntelePACS to be able to communicate with other systems,” Leclair said. “It makes the workflow more continuous, and allows us to deliver reports even faster.”
Instantaneous Access to Images and Reports Drastically Reduces Turnaround Time
IntelePACS plays a significant role in minimizing turnaround times at MCH, reducing the process from days to minutes. The ability to instantaneously and securely transfer information electronically – whether between departments or with outside medical facilities – is a key advantage, especially for time-sensitive trauma cases.
“In a hospital setting, time is of the essence,” said Lucia Carpineta, M.D., an MCH pediatric radiologist. “With IntelePACS, images can be read almost as they happen. In terms of report delivery, IntelePACS provides physicians with access to our audio recordings the minute we push the ‘close’ button.”
IntelePACS Features Boost Efficiency and Increase Productivity
Additionally, IntelePACS increases efficiency and quality within the department. Worklists automatically filter what an individual radiologist sees, presenting the highest priority items for attention first. Collaboration features enable peer consultation. Secure, web-based access makes the system available anytime, anywhere. “With IntelePACS, you’re able to process the images quicker and transmit the information faster,” said Carpineta.
Access to Priors Raises Quality, Avoids Duplicate Studies
IntelePACS makes it easy to deliver higher-quality interpretations by automatically locating and displaying prior studies. “When prior studies are available, IntelePACS alerts you and provides quick, seamless access,” said Carpineta. “This allows the radiologist to verify if an ailment is new or to see how long it has been there. With IntelePACS, we can link images together to identify and pinpoint significant changes.”
Carpineta also praises IntelePACS’ prior-study access features for eliminating redundant exams, enabling MCH to reduce healthcare costs and minimize patients’ unnecessary exposure to radiation.
Bringing Patient Care into the Future
In 2015, Montreal Children’s Hospital is set to move, becoming part of the MUHC’s ultramodern mega-hospital. As the radiology solution provider for the MUHC, Intelerad will enable MCH to continue pursuing medical advances and providing world-class patient care, while facilitating new levels of efficiency and quality in radiology.
About Intelerad Medical Systems
Intelerad is a recognized leader in medical imaging PACS and workflow solutions. IntelePACS relies on a scalable, flexible, and fault-tolerant architecture. Intelerad solutions, like InteleOne, have a strong reputation for reliability and performance in complex, multi-site environments with challenging workflows.
April 11, 2024 
