Utility and Perceived Value of a Provincial Digital Diagnostic Imaging Repository: Multimethod Study

Lisa Wickerson; Jamie K Fujioka; Vanessa Kishimoto; Trevor Jamieson; Ben Fine; R Sacha Bhatia; Laura Desveaux

doi:10.2196/17220

Utility and Perceived Value of a Provincial Digital Diagnostic Imaging Repository: Multimethod Study

JMIR Form Res. 2020 Jul 27;4(7):e17220. doi: 10.2196/17220.

Authors

Lisa Wickerson^{1

2}, Jamie K Fujioka², Vanessa Kishimoto², Trevor Jamieson^{2

3

4}, Ben Fine^{2

5}, R Sacha Bhatia^{2

3

4

6}, Laura Desveaux^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

PMID: 32459644
PMCID: PMC7418016
DOI: 10.2196/17220

Abstract

Background: Timely and comprehensive diagnostic image sharing across institutional and regional boundaries can produce multiple benefits while supporting integrated models of care. In Ontario, Canada, the Diagnostic Imaging Common Service (DICS) was created as a centralized imaging repository to enable the sharing and viewing of diagnostic images and associated reports across hospital-based and community-based clinicians throughout the province.

Objective: The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to explore real-world utilization and perceived clinical value of the DICS following the provision of system-wide access and (2) to identify strategies to optimize the technology platform functionality and encourage adoption.

Methods: This multimethod study included semistructured interviews with physicians and administrative stakeholders and descriptive analysis of the current DICS usage data.

Results: In this study, 41 participants were interviewed, that is, 34 physicians and 7 administrative stakeholders. The following 4 key themes emerged: (1) utilization of the DICS depended on the awareness of the technology and the preferred channels for accessing images, which varied widely, (2) clinical responsibilities and available institutional resources were the drivers of utilization (or lack thereof), (3) centralized image repositories were perceived to offer value at the patient, clinician, and health care system levels, and (4) the enabling factors to realize value included aspects of technology infrastructure (ie, available functionality) alongside policy supports. High-volume DICS usage was not evenly distributed throughout the province.

Conclusions: Suboptimal adoption of the DICS was driven by poor awareness and variations in the clinical workflow. Alignment with physician workflow, policy supports, and investment in key technological features and infrastructure would improve functionality and data comprehensiveness, thereby optimizing health system performance, patient and provider experience, population health, and health care costs.

Keywords: diagnostic imaging; eHealth; health care delivery.

©Lisa Wickerson, Jamie K Fujioka, Vanessa Kishimoto, Trevor Jamieson, Ben Fine, R Sacha Bhatia, Laura Desveaux. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (http://formative.jmir.org), 27.07.2020.