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Imaging modalities such as X rays, angio-grams, CT scans, ultrasounds, bone scans, MRIs, PET scans, radionuclide scans help physicians diagnose and determine treatments for illness and injuries. From 1895 to 2003, film radiology was used for X rays (and subsequently for the other imaging modalities as they were developed). Physical movement of records are required at times, not just within a hospital, but (via mail, courier, patient, etc.) from the radiologist in a hospital or large imaging center to the treating physicans in a hospital or at a referring physician’s office. Huge physical storage requirements were needed (multiple buildings!) not only because film sheets are very large, but records are required to be stored for long periods of time (e.g. children’s records must be kept until age 21). Many of those large sleeves to store and transport the films were also needed. A lot of time and money was spent to create copies or assure those original films were returned to the radiologist and not lost or misplaced. Digital imaging has been available for several years with the imaging modalities. Instead of creating film, the digital image is sent electronically to a computer, stored and distributed electronically. The radiologist does not have to be at the hospital or imaging center. This means the radiology groups can support many hospitals and doctors. During evening hours, hospitals can have one radiologist in-house, and when volume requires it, use another radiologist locally, or use “nighthawks” from halfway (12 hours) around the world (e.g. Australia or India). The images can also be stored on CDs for the patient and doctors. Obviously, all of these digital imaging advantages need a software system with a diagnostic workstation and archive server to support storing images and diagnosis, viewing (adjusting brightness, rotating, scanning in/out, and annotating) images, and distributing images securely. Privacy and security is important. Only doctors authorized to view the patient’s images and medical records should have access. All of this is what EXAM-PACS (Picture, Archiving, and Communications System) does. Apparently, Ed Heere’s system does this for a lot less dollars than the large companies like GE do, and with a few extra features. A physician needs internet access, Email, a “regular” desktop/laptop with a “regular” monitor plus 2 or 3 of the very large digital flat panel displays to view the images. An archive server fee is charged based on a fee per image price. Image storage is duplicated in five different locations. |
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At the
May General Meeting, Ed Heere, former DACS board member, talked
about the EXAM-PACS system and services that his company,