Advanced Medical Imaging

Teleradiology & PACS a Winning Combination

BUSINESS AREAS PACS TELERAD DICOM SCALE ABILITY UPGRADE ABILITY COST EFFECTIVE IMPROVED CARE REVENUE GENERATING

Teleradiology & PACS - Introduction
Digit Image SA views the teleradiology/PACS market as having four layers -- on-call and central read teleradiology, clinical area networks, picture archive and communication systems and heterogeneous systems integration solutions. While each layer builds upon the other, it is possible to begin teleradiology/PACS efforts at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of each layer.

Teleradiology
Teleradiology may be defined as the capture and transmission of images for clinical viewing. Teleradiology may then be broken down into two categories -- on call teleradiology and central radiology networks.

On-call Teleradiology
On-call teleradiology may be more specifically defined as the hospital-to-home application. Images are transmitted to radiologists or referring physicians for consultation, via ISDN, or standard phone lines. In general, our products provide a convenience to the physicians, allowing early notification of a patient's condition in emergency situations. Most often these products are used in an on-call scenario allowing radiologists to determine whether hospital admission is necessary for a particular patient from the comfort of home, thereby eliminating travel time and costs to go to the hospital to make the decision.

Central Read Teleradiology Networks
Central read teleradiology networks connect remote imaging centers, clinics and rural hospitals to centers of radiological excellence and medical teaching facilities in domestic and international locations. Central read networks are defined as any teleradiology application that involves sending images from single or multiple remote sites to a "central site" for the purpose of diagnostic reading by radiologists. This particular application of teleradiology may also be referred to by other names such as "over-read networks" or "facility-to-facility teleradiology." The common factor in all cases is that multiple sites, without radiology expertise or without sub-specialty expertise, are transmitting images electronically to other sites for primary diagnosis. The display monitors at the reading site must be capable of displaying images at their full resolution and/or a server may be present to buffer and track the incoming images.

Clinical Area Networks
The second layer encompasses both teleradiology and image distribution. The main difference between the first and second layer is the network capabilities of the products. Most products in Layer 2 are DICOM compliant and include data management diagnostic viewing, and desktop archiving. Data management involves storing patient data and film information. Diagnostic viewing allows radiologist to view images for diagnosis. Desktop archiving allows for image/patient storage on a PC. Image distribution is most often used in clinical review systems. Components can easily be configured into a simple network or a highly functional medical image management and communications system.

Clinical Review Systems
Clinical review systems are used with the segment of image management and communications systems (IMACS) concerned with transmitting images locally, via a network, to speed-up and simplify access to radiology images in ICU/CCU or the ER. The differentiating factor of this application is that user interfaces must be simplified and specifically targeted to be used by non-radiological staff. In addition, diagnostic quality images and long term archiving are generally not required. The workflow is the most important aspect of this application. In addition to improving patient service, this application saves the hospital the expense of having staff track and deliver films, and virtually eliminates lost films.

PACS
PACS is the third layer of ours imaging solutions and involves work flow management and filmless operation, including long term archive and RIS/HIS integration. Our PACS products apply to applications that require enterprise-wide networking and large archives.
PACS is a system used for the transmission, display and management of medical images. A PACS systems may consist of several components including workstations, viewstations, archiving systems and communications networks. The long term goal of PACS is to take a hospital filmless, thereby eliminating the expense associated with film production (film, processors, chemicals, etc.). Our PACS products utilize 2K workstations (Windows NT and UNIX) and servers to create filmless sites. Images are stored and archived in DICOM format. One-, two- or four-monitor workstation configurations can provide primary interpretation of radiological images at resolutions up to 2048 X 2560 by 12-bits. Our PACS reduces the costs and risks associated with transporting patients to off-site medical facilities.

Heterogenous Systems Integration
While Digit Image SA has products to encompass Layers 1-3, we also believe there is yet one more layer of operation. The fourth layer, heterogeneous systems integration, encompasses a full telemedicine environment, including transcription systems, pathology, and computerized patient records. Digit Image SA is currently proposing solutions for telepathology and is preparing an integrated healthcare systems which includs electronic patient medical record (EMC). While we do not manufacture nor distribute other products at this level, all of our product development considers Layer 4 implications in order that our products may have long life and lasting value.

Monitors
Digit Image SA also represents MegaScan, the manufacturer of the highest resolution monitors available in the market today. Designed for medical, non-destructive testing, and other applications where image interpretation is paramount, the system includes a 2000 line monitor and an innovative controller which accommodates 12-bit pixel data and displays 256 gray shades. Digit Image's Layer 2 and Layer 3 products offer options to be configured with MegaScan monitors.

FUJI CR to DICOM
This product allows capture of Fuji CR images from any FUJI modality or Workstation and conversion into DICOM format. Advanced viewing using Fuji presets like parameters is avalable. Very reliable and economical solution.