Abstract
BACKGROUND: The construction of regional medical centers represents a strategic initiative for improving healthcare quality and accessibility in public hospitals. Advanced imaging platforms integrating computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) technologies are crucial for achieving high-quality diagnostic services. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and evaluate an integrated advanced imaging platform model for a public hospital transitioning to a regional medical center, focusing on quality improvement, resource optimization, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: A prospective implementation study was conducted from January 2021 to December 2023 in a tertiary public hospital. Implementation followed three phases: infrastructure preparation (months 1-12), technology deployment (months 13-24), and full-scale operations (months 25-36). Quality control included daily calibration, monthly phantom imaging, and quarterly physics evaluations. Key metrics measured were diagnostic accuracy (peer review), turnaround times, patient satisfaction (Press Ganey surveys), equipment utilization, and financial performance. AI systems underwent retrospective validation on 10 000 cases before clinical deployment. All AI tools utilized in this study were FDA-cleared or CE-marked commercial software platforms with established validation for clinical use. RESULTS: Following platform implementation, diagnostic accuracy improved by 23.7% (95% CI: 21.4%-26.0%, p < 0.001), examination turnaround time decreased by 42.3% (from 48.6 ± 12.3 to 28.1 ± 8.7 h, p < 0.001), and patient satisfaction scores increased from 72.4% to 91.8% (p < 0.001). The centralized imaging center model achieved a 31.5% reduction in operational costs while expanding service capacity by 58.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The integrated advanced imaging platform successfully enhanced diagnostic capabilities, operational efficiency, and patient care quality in a public hospital. This model provides a replicable framework for healthcare institutions pursuing regional medical center development.