Perspective on imaging services at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Abstract

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were widely acclaimed a success for host city London. Over 10,000 athletes from 196 countries participated in the Olympic Games, whilst the Paralympics witnessed over 4,000 athletes from 164 countries. The medical services at the games were offered through purpose-built polyclinics. Three such purpose-built polyclinics were set up, one each at the main games village in Stratford, the rowing village in Eton Dorney and sailing village at Weymouth. The Stratford Polyclinic was the major polyclinic within the main games village. Besides onsite consultation from sports physicians and general practitioners, fully equipped imaging department, accident and emergency, physiotherapy, podiatry, chiropody, dentistry, optometry and laboratory services were offered within the polyclinics. Accident and emergency services were operational 24 h, and the rest of the polyclinic functioned from 7:00 a.m. in the morning to 11:00 p.m. in the evening, over two shifts. The polyclinics opened a week before the start of the games and continued to provide services for 2 days after the closing ceremonies, functioning for a total of 30 days for the Olympics and 21 days for the Paralympics. A total of 7.9 million euros (£6.6 million, $11 million U.S) was invested into setting up the imaging department. The polyclinic at Stratford was equipped with a digital x-ray system (GE XR 656 wireless digital x-ray), two US machines (GE Logiq E9 scanners), a 64-slice multidetector CT with fluoroscopy facilities for intervention (GE Discovery 750 HD CT scanner), and 3and 1.5-T wide-bore MRI scanners (GE Medical, Milwaukee, WI). The Eton Dorney and Weymouth Polyclinics were equipped with US scanners (GE Logiq E9 scanners). Integrated GE RIS-PACS with dual monitor work stations and voice recognition facilities were used for studying and reporting the examinations performed. Conference facilities separate from the main reporting roomwith a high-definition projector were set up to discuss the scan images with the team doctors in a confidential environment. All examinations were printed, and compact discs were issued along with a copy of the radiologist’s report to the athletes scanned straight after the examination. Both electronic and hand-filled request cards were in use, and referrals were received from team doctors, doctors consulting within the polyclinic and venue medical doctors. Twenty-seven musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologists, 56 radiographers, 23 radiographic assistants and 4 ultrasonographers offered their services for the Olympic Games. Twelve MSK radiologists, ten radiographers, five radiographic assistants and two trained ultrasonographers manned the services during the Paralympics. During the competitions’ busiest schedule, five radiologists worked each shift during the Olympics and two radiologists per shift for the Paralympics at Stratford Polyclinic. At any given time, one radiologist was based at Eton Dorney and Weymouth Polyclinics during functional hours. This facilitated hot reporting, and reports were generally issued within 1 h of performing the radiological investigations. Presence of onsite radiologists obviated the need for teleradiology services. Any imaging requests arising from casualty consultations outside hours were sent to regional hospitals, these were few in number. S. Bethapudi County Durham & Darlington NHS Trust, Durham, UK