Enterprise Imaging

Enterprise imaging brings together all imaging exams, patient data and reports from across a healthcare system into one location to aid efficiency and economy of scale for data storage. This enables immediate access to images and reports any clinical user of the electronic medical record (EMR) across a healthcare system, regardless of location. Enterprise imaging (EI) systems replace the former system of using a variety of disparate, siloed picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), radiology information systems (RIS), and a variety of separate, dedicated workstations and logins to view or post-process different imaging modalities. Often these siloed systems cannot interoperate and cannot easily be connected. Web-based EI systems are becoming the standard across most healthcare systems to incorporate not only radiology, but also cardiology (CVIS), pathology and dozens of other departments to centralize all patient data into one cloud-based data storage and data management system.

PHOTO GALLERY: Medical imaging technology at RSNA 2024

Take a virtual tour around the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting to see the sights and new technologies displayed across the vast exhibit hall floors.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, explains the U.S. is spending the most on healthcare of any country, but has poorer outcomes than other western nations. He said healthcare reform is needed to change that course. #Healthdisparities #healthequity

FDA commissioner urges health systems to strengthen AI quality oversight

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, explains the need for hospitals to perform quality assurance checks on clinical artificial intelligence to ensure these technologies don't "drift" from what was originally cleared by the FDA.
 

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) is asking Congress to repeal the appropriate use software provision mandate, which physicians say is an obstacle to efficient care.

ASNC asks Congress to officially repeal the AUC mandate for advanced medical imaging

Medicare rescinded the provision in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, but the law remains on the books. 

Peter Monteleone, MD, an interventional cardiologist, national director of cardiovascular research at Ascension Health, and assistant professor, UT Austin Dell School of Medicine, explained the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to independently identify an emergency stroke or pulmonary embolism (PE) finding on a CT scan and automatically alert critical care team members. His health system uses this type of AI for earlier activation of the pulmonary embolism response team (PERT).

AI critical care software revolutionizes emergency response

Ascension Health in Texas uses AI that can read CT scans for stroke and pulmonary embolism to activate care teams before the images even get into the PACS.

Cloud service icon with options and devices

Private equity-backed cardiology group puts cloud-based technology in hands of its cardiologists

Cardiovascular Associates of America, backed by Webster Equity Partners, currently includes practices in eight different states. Its partner cardiologists now have preferred access to multiple cloud-based services provided by Athenahealth. 

Key trends in enterprise imaging

Radiology is going though a period of disruption with a growing radiologist shortage, decreasing reimbursements and increasing numbers of exams, making workflow efficiency a critical concern.

Best in KLAS 2024: New rankings for cardiovascular information systems, hemodynamic solutions

Hospital end users ranked the CVIS and hemodynamic systems they use, shedding light on their working relationships with IT vendors. 

Sectra's packed booth at RSNA 2023. Sectra again won the Best in KLAS 2024 awards as the best vendor to work with for for both large and small sized radiology PACS.

Best in KLAS 2024 rankings released, showcasing medical imaging IT systems

End-users of various radiology IT systems offer their assessment of the software they use in the annual KLAS Research 2024 Best in KLAS report.

Around the web

HHS has thought through the ways AI can and should become an integral part of healthcare, human services and public health. Last Friday—possibly just days ahead of seating a new secretary—the agency released a detailed plan for getting there from here.

Philips is recalling the software associated with its Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry devices after certain high-risk ECG events were never routed to trained cardiology technicians as intended. The issue, which lasted for two years, has been linked to more than 100 injuries. 

Heart Rhythm Society President Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD, detailed a new advocacy group focused on improving EP reimbursements, patient care and access. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu," he said.