If there is an industry where people expect the most modern technology to be in use – it’s the
medical industry. However, at issue today is the method by which radiologists are able to store and share their medical images. When it comes to storing, accessing and sharing hospital data, there seems to be no good excuse for lagging behind – unless you’re a rural provider with limited resources.
When the compact disc hit the scene, it was certainly a game changer for the medical community and image transmission, which needed a more efficient way to store and share medical images. Providers began buying CD burning equipment and ditching the old film methods. However, the process wasn’t/isn’t without its drawbacks. Providers don’t always get a product that works, which means they’re sending off CD’s that are corrupted. Another issue is that these CDs are easily lost, which means the information might have gotten into the wrong hands.
Another evolution occurred when picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) hit the market and allowed hospitals to store and access medical images locally. As more providers adopt vendor neutral archiving systems, they’re better able to share these images offsite and rely less and less on their PACS.
Providers aren’t only using their VNA-equipped systems to share images across departments at the hospitals; they’re also sharing them with offsite providers and patients. As we look at living up to all the requirements in Stage 2 of Meaningful Use, we know it is essential that radiologists send patients an electronic report within 24 hours of their procedure, whether it’s standard X-ray, MRI, CT or any other type of medical imaging. Finding a method that works is essential, and some facilities are getting behind – they aren’t even caught up with Stage 1.
Some of the most affected by a lack of modern technology are rural providers at small facilities that have limited resources. These are critical care providers who were slow on the uptake of CD burning technology, mostly due to the cost associated with integrating that solution.
In Michigan, 10 critical access hospitals worked together on their image transmission issues by creating a health information network. With a $1.5 million grant, they worked to improve patient safety while focusing on quality of care. This network worked in bringing down the barrier between the residents and improved quality of care. The perks they realized through this network included reduced test duplications, improved inpatient transfers, an elimination of expensive courier services and an overall better quality of care.
Not all rural facilities have the access to that type of funding and/or the communication required to coordinate such a partnership. With more than 2,000 rural, critical care facilities across the country, it’s obvious that something needs to happen to get these doctors and their patients on board with more modern solutions. As more states establish health image exchanges, these facilities with tiny budgets and little human resources for IT needs are getting hooked up with a low-cost, yet high-quality solution.
OffSite Image Management, Inc., uses solutions that put the ball in the court of these rural providers. At OffSite, we know rural providers are stretched in every way possible, which is why we’ve created a solution that works in their favor. There are limited options out there today, and even fewer options for image transmission for rural providers. However, when using OffSite’s health image exchange solution, these providers get access to the most advanced federated image exchange platform available. For more information, contact us today.