Originally published on JS PACS, March 7, 2009. Part of the Radiology Workflow series.
When planning a radiology image QA program, you must make sure to provide the imaging technologists with the appropriate tools to do the work. This means installing video cards and monitors that can be calibrated and measured to the DICOM grayscale standard. Two-megapixel monitors at 21 inches are sufficient to show diagnostic-quality images for MRI, CT, ultrasound, and other modalities, with the exception of general x-ray and mammography. Monitors such as the Planar PX212 are sufficient and affordable enough to purchase and sprinkle throughout each area.
For general x-ray, you will want to purchase at least one three-megapixel monitor and place it in a central location for image evaluation. For mammography, the FDA requires a five-megapixel monitor for diagnostic viewing; there are numerous additional QA requirements in mammography that are outside the scope of this discussion.
As a PACS administrator, recommend to your leadership team that an image QA program be set up so that all technologists see images in a way similar to how the radiologist will see them. This helps ensure that by the time the images are available for the radiologist to read, they have already been viewed as they will appear to the radiologist. Also mention to your leadership team that there are various solutions available that allow you to build a quality program, which ultimately helps reduce turnaround time.