Radiology Touchscreen Kiosks as a Multi‐modal Replacement for the Viewbox
Authors: Frasch Tripp 
Published: November 2023

Objective

The objective of this project is to leverage Information Technology to improve the delivery of radiographic content in the Gross Anatomy course. After considering options including PACS Workstations in a separate Radiographic Anatomy room, web delivered modules, and simply retaining our existing films and viewboxes, the decision was made to replace the ageing fluorescent x‐ray viewboxes installed in all seven Gross Anatomy laboratories with a modern analog that would offer expanded educational utility and flexibility both within and outside of the Gross Anatomy course. This choice balanced cost with the need to update our educational delivery method while delivering expanded content within the dissection lab.

Methods

The Gross Anatomy course at Tulane University School of Medicine is a 185‐contact hour course encompassing lecture, cadaveric dissection, PBL, and Simulation Center sessions across 11 weeks at the beginning of the first year of Medical School. There are 213 students enrolled; 175 are first year students, the remainder are in graduate or Certification programs. At the beginning of the project, each of seven Gross Anatomy dissection laboratories, with 5–6 dissection tables and 28–36 students in each, was equipped with a four‐panel fluorescent x‐ray viewbox installed in the late 1950's that was used to display small sets of film‐based x‐rays as part of the Gross Anatomy curriculum for student study along with an alternate set of x‐ray films that were used during examinations. During a period of educational down‐time during the summer, these viewboxes were replaced in each lab with a 32” (diagonal) portrait‐oriented touchscreen monitor connected to a small wall mounted Windows 10 computer. An expanding library of radiographic content was compiled to complement the systems for student resources, self‐study, and for examinations.

Results

The resulting benefits of the Radiology Touchscreen Kiosk are fourfold: (1) The relative low cost of smaller touchscreen displays is a small price to pay for the added ease of incorporating and rapidly updating radiographic content directly in the dissection laboratory. (2) The ability to easily navigate and zoom in on imagery has both simplified the viewing experience and increased use. (3) New with these kiosks is the ability to deliver multimedia rich materials and radiographic content beyond a standard film x‐ray allowing for display of MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound video segments. (4) Students now have access to the entire content library outside of scheduled lab sessions, such as when they are dissecting after‐hours.

Conclusions

These Touchscreen Radiology Kiosks have allowed for a tighter, more rapid integration and deployment of radiographic content into the Gross Anatomy course and also offer utility in other courses such as Histology where imagery from our web‐based Virtual Microscopy library can be accessed.

Support or Funding Information

The Department of Structural & Cellular Biology graciously thanks the Office of the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs for their financial support of this project.