ULTRASOUND – PURCHASING AND ARCHIVINGSandra Williams, DO, MPH
Baylor College of Medicine
Features to consider
ED US machine
Portability
Portability
• Battery powered• Same functions as when plugged in? • Battery life
• Size• Handheld• Laptop version with cart option• Large machine version
• Patient room size• What will fit when other things going on
Features to consider
ED US machine
Portability
Image Quality
Image Quality
• Picture • How good does it look?• Resolution
• Screen• Size• Rotate/turn/move
Features to consider
ED US machine
Portability
Image Quality
Ease of Use
Ease of use• Quick boot up time
• Keyboard• Backlit• Large buttons/keys
• Knobology• How easy is it to do what you want?
• Calculations• Zoom• Switch modes
Features to consider
ED US machine
Portability
Image Quality
Ease of Use
Durability
Durability
• Machine will be used 24/7
• Well built/Good quality• Able to tolerate being dropped/stepped on• No crevices
• Easy to fix/remove broken parts without removing from service
Features to consider
ED US machine
Portability
Image Quality
Ease of Use
DurabilityImage
Storage
Image Storage• Stills and videos
• How are the images saved• JPEG• DICOM
• Flashdrive
• Interaction with archiving software/system• Wireless capability?
Features to consider
ED US machine
Portability
Image Quality
Ease of Use
DurabilityImage
Storage
Cost
Cost
• Initial cost of the machine
• Cost of the probes
• Maintenance program expenses
• Upgrades
Features to consider
ED US machine
Portability
Image Quality
Ease of Use
DurabilityImage
Storage
Cost
Service
Service• Affordability
• Warranty• Service contract• Discounted repairs…for how long?
• Access• 24/7 • Weekdays?
Zonare
GE
Philips
Sonosite
Archiving Strategies
Printed images
Video/DVD
External hard drive
Institutional server
PACS system
Qpath/SWS
Archiving Strategies
• Printed Images• No videos• Printer cost + paper/ink replacement• Difficult to search/reuse images
• Video/DVD• Can save video• Blank tape• Storage space• Maintenance cost – new video/DVDs
Archiving Strategies
• External hard drive• low cost, • maintenance costs• Images saved as jpeg• Easier to search/reuse images
• Institutional server• Need the buy in of IT• Protected and secure• Access from home/office
Archiving Strategies
• PACS system• Images sent straight to hospital PACS system
• Qpath• Can choose what to send to PACS• Cost ~$10,000• Images saved as DICOMs
• SWS (Sonosite Workflow Services)• Manually choose what goes to PACS
Recommended
