PACS is an enterprise priority
The PACS market stretches from experienced digital image management enterprises looking for a second or third generation PACS to small hospitals, imaging centers and orthopedic clinics aiming to jump into the digital world. RSNA offerings reflect the diversity of the marketplace. Web-based solutions that deliver images across and beyond the enterprise are hot. Visitors can take in a range of enterprise systems, integrated RIS/PACS offerings, new financial models, and programs to improve the business of radiology. Look for new tools to optimize the booming slice counts generated by multislice CT like integrated MPR/MPR processing. Voice and orthopedic templating tools are available in a number of systems as well.Agfa Healthcare (Booth #2729) is highlighting web-based PACS solutions for improving radiology services to referring physicians and other healthcare providers from orders to result distribution. IMPAX Enterprise offers an integrated image and information management solution and encompasses the building blocks for an electronic health record. It includes IMPAX 6.0, which is being released at RSNA, and IMPAX RIS, SMMS (Solution Monitoring and Management Services), IMPAX Reporting, IMPAX Auditing and Integration Services. The company is showcasing IMPAX RIS/PACS for Imaging Centers and Clinics as well.
IMPAX 6.0 is a web-deployable application for imaging-based planning, interpretation and results distribution. Integrated with IMPAX RIS, IMPAX 6.0 enables healthcare facilities to optimize clinical and IT efficiencies, using a single workflow-based system to service users inside and outside the walls of a facility, providing consolidated management of patient image and information data. A smart client application extends beyond the radiology department in an adaptive client, building upon the functionality of IMPAX while addressing the issues of user experience, networking, flexibility and application deployment.
SMMS (System Monitoring and Management Services) is an integrated service that continually manages and monitors Agfa's applications, hardware, operating systems and databases throughout the hospital enterprise, identifying trends that point to potential future conflicts, notifying stakeholders of the situation and providing a map to quickly track down and resolve the problem. It is designed to ensure high availability of the healthcare infrastructure, while reducing the administrative effort required to manage PACS, RIS and CR.
The IMPAX RIS/PACS solution for Imaging Centers and Clinics is designed to help increase productivity, profitability and referring physician and practice satisfaction. It streamlines and integrates a comprehensive range of radiology, business and clinical information workflows that traditionally have been manual- or paper-based. New developments include enhancements to the embedded billing workflow and an integrated Mammography Tracking module. IMPAX RIS/PACS for Imaging Centers provides pre-certification workflow, embedded document management within the RIS application and TalkStation speech recognition.
AMICAS (Booth #1968) is debuting the Vision Reach referring physician portal. Vision Reach provides a communication tool between radiologists and referring clinicians and includes instant e-mail or pager notification of critical results, zero-install image viewer, key image display including annotations and historical reports.
Acuo Technologies (Booth #5422) is making its RSNA debut and launching its scalable AcuoMed/AcuoStore systems as an OEM supplier to PACS vendors. The company is introducing several Next Generation products that utilize Acuo's Intelligent Data Infrastructure that virtualize and extend storage, network and applications resources. The AcuoMed/AcuoStore architecture scales up and out to create centralized repositories (designed specifically for small imaging centers to enterprise multi-PACS facility healthcare organizations) or fully distributed DICOM Storage Grids.
Next Generation includes a highly scalable and configurable DICOM Router, a Reconcilation Gateway for enterprise worklist synchronization and an Archive/Image Manager that is highly scalable and efficient. A.D.A.M. is a new DICOM assisted data migration tool for use in conjunction with Acuo's Image Manager. It provides accurate, rapid transfer of DICOM data from one or more legacy PACS to new archives and/or PACS.
BRIT Systems (Booth #2359) is showing how distributed environments are supported, and end user monitoring of the flow of data within the virtual radiology environment. System reconciliation and synchronization tools demonstrate the flow of images and other operational data between "sites." BRIT is demonstrating and emphasizing business continuity and disaster recovery concepts that have been a part of BRIT's PACS offering. "Exam Loop" provides the monitoring and tracking tools that assist administrators in determining study and patient flow throughout departments. Visitors can see how one screen can provide administrators with all the information needed to determine department workflow efficiency and effectiveness. Enhancements to BRIT's product offerings include BRIT Lite, which expands the scope of the virtual environment, by facilitating the access of images and reports anytime, anywhere, anyplace. The company is touting 3D and MPR feature enhancements to its Linux-based Diagnostic workbench's viewing capabilities.
CoActiv Medical Business Solutions (Booth #6429) is unveiling, a new release of EXAM-PACS, including a modality worklist option and brokerless HL7 capability. EXAM-PACS offers expanded database capabilities with faster performance and provides simpler interface capabilities with all RIS and HIS systems. The new Modality Worklist Service Option provides DICOM Modality Worklist services for RIS/HIS/EXAM-PACS integrations where the HIS or RIS cannot provide the service. A new "Dual-Redundant" PACS proactive monitoring service provides a double layer of up-time protection. Also new is a 100 percent Up-Time SLA (Service Level Agreement) on the CoActiv EXAM-Vault Archive service, a PET-CT Fusion workstation and EXAM-PACS-ORTHO PACS with a fully integrated version of the OrthoView Orthopaedic Templating application.
DR Systems (Booth #2751) is exhibiting enhanced cardiology and mammography PACS capabilities, along with improved RIS features to facilitate a complete electronic medical record as part of Dominator Release 8.
Windows XP-based Release 8 uses smart client technology that combines web-based and client-server functionality. Upgrades include integration of mammography PACS capabilities, including interfacing to computer-assisted detection (CAD) systems; enhanced patient management tools for the RIS; an updated user interface that enhances the look and feel of the Windows XP operating system; full integration of TraumaCad, providing orthopedic surgeons with digital images, tools, and templates for preoperative planning; integration of Vital Images' Vitrea 2, allowing facilities to acquire, and manage advanced visualization images with diagnostic reports across the entire healthcare system and enhancement of Web Dominator, the internet application that allows online reading of medical imaging exams on remotely located home or office computers. Release 8 will be available in the U.S. in 2006.
In addition to integrating mammography capabilities more tightly into Release 8, DR Systems technology features lossless compression for transmitting images. This capability enables multi-site PACS users to exchange images using T1 telephone infrastructure, making it efficient for radiologists to transmit mammography and other image information, via the hospital's PACS, to and from remote facilities that do not have their own radiologists and access to digital broadband services.
The company is announcing additional, single sign-one EMR integration with third-party HIS, such as McKesson's HBOC via their HorizonWP Physician Portal.
Dynamic Imaging (Booth #5150) is announcing IntegradWeb RIS/PACS, an integrated, single-desktop RIS/PACS featuring end-to-end, web-based workflow from scheduling through billing, with document management and digital dictation and showing IntegradWeb PACS. IntegradWeb RIS/PACS meets the workflow needs of ambulatory settings with a single user-interface/desktop to extend enterprise-wide image and information access, to improve diagnostic accuracy and to accelerate turnaround time for radiology interpretation; a complete set of operational, business and clinical data to reduce rejected and/or denied claims for rapid payment and a unified dashboard with access to all patient and business information to deliver more efficient practice operations, optimize service delivery to referring physicians and improve patient care. IntegradWeb RIS/PACS is planned for wide release in early 2006.
Dynamic Imaging also is showcasing new functionality and extended integration to IntegradWeb PACS, which has the equivalent PACS functionality of IntegradWeb RIS/PACS.
Eclipsys Diagnostic Imaging Solutions (Booth #8558) is showing the combined core components of Sunrise Clinical Manager with the capabilities of Sunrise RIS and Sunrise PACS to deliver an image-enabled clinical information system. The integration of clinical and operational information from different hospital departments allows clinicians to view patient medical records and diagnostic images real-time across the organization to reduce the potential for errors and strengthen the ability to provide optimal care while reducing operating costs.
Emageon (Booth #6534) is previewing Emageon System Release 5.30.1. Improved features include native volume rendering, an integrated administrative toolset and enhanced enterprise workflow with new physician tools to manage exams and increase productivity.
eRAD (Booth #5516) is launching an IT platform designed to extend the PACS enterprise with enhanced distributed architecture. e3 is an extended family of PACS products and a new image management paradigm. The system is flexible and scalable, stretching from teleradiology to single-server facilities to integrated multi-site environments and robust extended enterprise information systems. e3 includes new enterprise-capable archive and disaster recovery components, a new speech recognition module, RIS capability and eRAD PAL (PACS Accessory Line).
Fujifilm Medical Systems (Booth #7157) is demonstrating several technologies that extend the functionality of its flagship Synapse PACS to cover all information visualization and navigation requirements of the radiology environment and focus on volume visualization and information management. Synapse addresses the requirements of radiology and serves as an effective tool for creating a multi-site practice that is capable of managing the increasing image and information content of radiology.
GE Healthcare (Booth #7730) is highlighting Centricity Radiology Business Intelligence dashboard software. The software is intended to provide detailed reporting of different business and workflow aspects of radiology departments. The solution looks at how the business is performing by comparing current performance against preconfigured values and industry benchmarks. The software provides quick access to utilization of various resources like scanners, giving administrators real-time feedback on patient wait times, performance of radiology staff and optionally providing information about status of different systems. The dashboard aims to improve efficiency, enhance workflow and improve ROI.
IDX Systems Corp. (Booth #1929) is showing a variety of new and enhanced solutions at RSNA. The company, which announced in September that GE Healthcare plans to acquire it in early 2006, is showing the Imagecast workflow-driven imaging solutions that enable universal access to all medical images and information and promote streamlined workflow. For radiology and cardiology, IDX is showcasing its core solutions that include RIS, CVIS (cardiovascular information system), voice recognition and digital dictation, inventory tracking, and well as Imagecast PACS for both Radiology and Cardiology.
The company also is showing an expanded, role-based worklist that drives productivity by enhancing workflow for various members of the clinical team. For orthopedic imaging, IDX is introducing Imagecast PACS for Orthopedics, a solution that offers surgeons a state-of-the-art tool for orthopedic image review, analysis and preoperative planning. For diagnostic imaging centers, IDX is showing a complete referral-to-cash solution which offers the radiologist, referring physician and administrator excellent capabilities in the areas of workflow, streaming images, orthopedics templating, web access and revenue cycle management.
IMCO Technologies (Booth #6728) is featuring IMCO-STAT and releasing VIP-PACS at RSNA 2005. IMCO-STAT sends information in a variety of methods, including images, text, voice clips, streaming video and digitized hand-written notes. It also features automatic return receipt, audible alerts for incoming messages and the ability to create a log of events to meet HIPAA standards. IMCO-STAT is compatible with existing DICOM-compliant PACS installations.
VIP-PACS is designed to meet the need of smaller hospitals, outpatient centers and smaller practices. The new PACS is available in Basic, Standard and Premium versions. All VIP-PACS versions include flat-panel monitors. VIP-PACS provides sufficient image storage for the smaller facility, and the Premium package includes IMCO-web.
Intelerad Medical Systems (Booth #5118) is showcasing the InteleViewer Workstation as a stand-alone product, new MPR tools and a Teaching Files Reading Simulator.
InteleViewer diagnostic workstation software is intended for hospitals and imaging centers that are looking to supplement or replace their current solution. InteleViewer Workstation edition features full DICOM support, including DICOM query/retrieve, store, print supporting presentation state, key images, and JPEG 2000 transmission.
New MPR tools include double oblique MPR, in-plane reformatting, slice averaging and accommodation for gantry tilt angulation and slice thickness variation.
The reading simulator allows the medical student to perform soft-copy reading in a fully-simulated reading environment complete with the display of a teaching file case history.
Cases are tagged and indexed using key word parameters to facilitate searching for specific case types.
Intuitive Imaging Informatics, LLC (Booth #2356) is launching a diagnostic level version of its web-based PACS, the ImageQube. The ImageQube is available as a stand-alone, web-based PACS or as a tightly integrated component of the Rational Imaging PACS and web-based RISQube.
Kodak's Health Group (Booth#4312) is demonstrating the latest version of DIRECTVIEW PACS System 5 with a new user-centric architecture that supports individual preferences such as display protocols, foldering and tools from any location inside or outside the institution. This new version also features the ability to integrate 3D images with reports for referring physicians and enhancements to Kodak's native real-time 3D capabilities with more interactive MPR functionality. In addition, more detailed reporting from automated vessel analysis, minimum intensity projection and cardiac CT functions (including calcium scoring, automated heart axis detection and rib cage removal, coronary analysis tools and reporting) is now available.
McKesson Corp. (Booth #1119) is highlighting Horizon Cardiology, Horizon Optical Imaging and Rad Station eJacket. Horizon Cardiology is a complete cardiovascular information solution (CVIS) that moves organizations closer to an enterprise image and information management solution. It integrates reports, images, waveforms and measurements into the patient's complete record, accessible over local networks or remotely over the web.
Horizon Optical Imaging is a new image management solution designed to support clinical image management of optical imaging devices. The solution makes optical images available enterprise-wide for reference, consultation, conferencing and teaching. The image capture component is a new appliance that turns any endoscope with a video output into a DICOM modality. Viewing, storage and distribution are provided through Horizon Medical Imaging, McKesson's PACS.
Horizon Rad Station eJacket enables quick access to exam results using a web browser. eJacket provides referring physicians with portable access to information from the diagnostic imaging service for the studies ordered for their patients. This information includes reports with embedded flagged images, scanned documents, voice clips, flagged images or the entire image set.
Medical Standard International Inc. (Booth #7308) is introducing Omni-Vue Chiro, a specialized digital chiropractic image viewing and management application.
Merge eMed (Booth #1918) is showcasing its integrated RIS/PACS solution and debuting a 64-bit computing platform, new clinical applications and Cedara I-Conference. The Merge eMed RIS/PACS solution automates, streamlines and integrates RIS, PACS, dictation, document management, web-enabled distribution of clinical and business information, billing and practice analysis workflow into a single solution and distribute images via the combination of image streaming and RIS and PACS-driven routing methods to accelerate productivity, improve profitability and enhance the quality of patient care.
The 64-bit computing platform accommodates increasing study size, allowing the visualization of large studies that are limited by traditional 32-bit memory architecture.
The company is showing new clinical applications-virtual colonoscopy, calcium scoring, lung nodule detection and 3D/4D reconstruction-integrated with eFilm Workstation Software. Booth visitors can see specialty clinical visualization software, including PET/CT fusion, mammography, orthopedics, virtual colonoscopy, calcium scoring, lung nodule detection, 3D fetal imaging and more.
Cedara I-Conference assists healthcare professionals to quickly and easily consolidate images and data for medical presentations. The presentation tool allows healthcare professionals to focus on content development.
Neurostar Solutions (Booth #5539) is launching its Imaging Community Website, PACS-In-A-Flash. Virtual Radiology Community Website is a platform for sharing imaging services, resources and information for Virtual Radiology Network (VRN) image management users. The site offers a sub-portal for imaging businesses looking to outsource reading and an area for offsite reading service providers. The Virtual Radiology Community Website provides a gateway to the VRN image management solution, which is an application service provider (ASP) offering that resides on the Neurostar's hosted bank of servers. The sub-portal enables VRN sign-up, downloading of VRN gateway software and immediate communication of images to authorized users and business partners.
PACS-In-A-Flash provides the VRN viewer on a flash drive and serves as a virtual key to streamline sign-up and set-up for the VRN service. It enables physicians and patients to download and carry relevant medical images with them for viewing on any PC.
ODS Medical (Booth #4916) is announcing upgrades and function releases for PACScomm. It has added 400GB of storage to position PACScomm as a short-term working PACS archive, in addition to its CD/DVD mastering capability. The 400GB working archive, along with PACScomm's Auto Archive function, provides a complete mini-PACS archive that includes off-line archive management. PACScomm's Auto Archive function meets HIPAA requirements for multiple copies of images and provides a convenient mechanism for off-site storage.
PACScomm Release V2.3 adds the ability to span studies across multiple pieces of media (supports both CD and DVD spanning) and supports DICOM-structured reports to include reports to the recorded CD content. Other enhancements include mixed media support, output reporting, enhanced DICOM connectivity configurability, email support and departmentalization.
Orthocrat, Ltd. (Booth #5381) is introducing OrthoMacro and debuting thin-client architecture enabling deployment of TraumaCad throughout the enterprise and beyond via the hospital network or internet.
OrthoMacro allows orthopedists to build measurement protocols and define tools for specific clinical tasks. Clinicians can define protocols for a specific clinical question and perform measurements in a prospective or retrospective fashion. Results are stored in the TraumaCad database and saved to the TraumaCad Enterprise Web Server, enabling instant access to these tools from any TraumaCad access point in the facility.
TraumaCad offers enhanced open architecture to download from a central server and has a single point of integration with a PACS, eliminating the need for multiple copies of the program and integration at each workstation. The thin-client architecture also supports access by authorized users from any web-enabled computer beyond the enterprise.
Philips Medical Systems (Booth #1129) is introducing the Philips iSite PACS, acquired when Philips purchased Stentor, Inc., showing a new Orthopaedic Planning application for Philips ViewForum and presenting the latest developments in the Xcelera cardiology IT family.
The iSite PACS can be sold with a unique "pay-per-study" business model that enables customers to purchase PACS services without a major software or infrastructure investment. According to Philips, iSite is the leading platform for Philips PACS in the future, and existing customers (EasyAccess and iSite) can count on full service, support and upgrades.
The Orthopaedic Planning application features a templating module for Orthopaedic Surgeons and Osteotometry measurements.
The company is highlighting the latest developments in the Xcelera cardiology IT family.
RamSoft (Booth #2319) is launching PowerServer 4.0 and highlighting FDA approval for mammography.
RamSoft's PowerServer 4.0 web-based PACS and teleradiology system pushes images to clients. Images may be routed to personal computers (PCs) or to workgroup caching servers that share images between multiple PCs. Features include RapidKeys, a shortcut keypad that provides one-button access to clinical tools. In addition, an interactive training tool walks users through basic system tasks such as setting up a hanging protocol, creating a real-time PowerWorklist and dictating reports. The real-time PowerWorklist is color-coded by status and can be configured by user and role.
RamSoft's PowerServer 4.0 software suite received U.S. FDA 510(k) approval for use as a primary diagnostic, analysis and review tool. With appropriate 510(k) listed displays, the software may be used for primary diagnosis in digital mammography.
Rogan Delft (Booth #6908) is unveiling View Pro-X v2.1 Diagnostic version and Rogan View Pro-X v2.1 mammography, orthopedic and 3D versions. The VPX features an internal archive to deliver uncompressed images within a second. Its Unique Hanging Protocol (UHP) can recognize the workflow and present the UHP in the way required by the user. Rogan View Pro-X v2.1 Mammography version is available with dedicated mammography workflow functionality. The new functionality provides a single solution for multiple dedicated workflow processes. VPX v2.1 features an integrated mini-PACS.
View Pro-X v2.1 with dedicated orthopedic workflow functionality provides a single application handling multiple dedicated workflow processes. Rogan View Pro-X v2.1 3D Rendering brings advanced 3D medical imaging to a wide array of medical specialists and locations. The system is available at home and on the desktops of medical specialists such as neurosurgeons, cardiologists or orthopedists.
Rogan OnLine XS Archive v6.0 RAIS (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Servers) provides a cost-effective, fast and highly redundant PACS solution that can be installed over a large area or even nation-wide. It serves uncompressed images within seconds regardless the date of the exam and adapts to workflow.
Online XS PACS is a new pay-for-study system that provides a Rogan PACS using the existing film budget. It includes the Everything-On-Line (EOL), Multiple Archive Storage Servers (MASS) and Redundant Array of Inexpensive Servers (RAIS) solutions. The Online XS PACS solution based on RAIS enables healthcare facilities to start with a mini-PACS and grow when needed.
ScImage (Booth #4509) is exhibiting PicomEnterprise cardiology PACS, PicomTSM and PicomOnline. PicomEnterprise includes a comprehensive ECG management solution, a flexible document management module and an embedded online TelePACS service. The newest version offers embedded volumetric PET/CT viewing tools, completely web-based quality control tools, enhanced dictation module, enhanced echocardiography viewing and reporting tools and a turnkey ECG management system for ECG carts made by most manufacturers.
PicomTSM is a high throughput and fault tolerant Transaction Service Manager that can manage an array of redundant Message Transport Services to provide guaranteed uptime with its self healing capabilities.
PicomOnline provides PACS functionality with negligible onsite hardware. With the added document management functionality imaging centers can become digital enterprises without deviating from their film-based financial models.
The company is demonstrating cross referencing of clinical information and related documents from diagnostic and interventional departments for radiology, cardiology, orthopedics and more via a single database.
Sectra (Booth #1356) is highlighting its global support center and releasing Sectra PACS 10.2 and Orthostation Package. The company is showing Sectra 3D application and the fully integrated cardiology PACS, which are new to North America.
The global support center features service tools and real-time monitoring and 24/7 support.
The new Sectra PACS release 10.2 provides improved performance for workstation and server components and features integrated tools for advanced image management, such as Sectra's MPR/MIP package, as standard. Sectra PACS release (10.2) provides fully integrated MPR/MIP, progressive image compression for short-term storage and communications between storage and workstation for better storage utilization and performance and smart caching of large data sets for increased display speed of image sets (particularly multislice CT). The new version is designed to cope with the new and future requirements for effective workflow, image distribution and reading large volumes of image data.
Sectra Orthostation Package is a complete toolset for the orthopedic surgeon, containing a wide range of advanced pre-operative planning and digital templating capabilities functioning as a fully integrated component of Sectra's PACS workstation.
Siemens Medical Solutions (Booth #4337) is highlighting its syngo imaging platform. Through syngo, all healthcare workflow, from scheduling and imaging to viewing and reporting, is role-based and available at a clinician's fingertips. The solution works across all modalities and offers advanced RIS, PACS and post-processing in a comprehensive package for radiology and cardiology imaging needs. New enhancements include syngo Imaging, syngo Workflow and syngo Dynamics.
syngo Imaging, Siemens Radiology PACS, features Smart Select, a navigational tool tailored to support the daily work of radiologists, Progressive Load and hanging protocol enhancements to speed image reading, tight integration of all components and advanced post-processing functions.
syngo Workflow drives the complete radiological workflow from order entry to image and report distribution. It offers role-based access to all relevant information and tools to referring physicians and radiologists. With a new graphical scheduling module, resource management is now more intuitive.
syngo Dynamics, which is pending 510(k) approval, is a multi-modality, dynamic image review, diagnosis and archiving system, enabling evidence-based reporting to help improve the efficiency of clinical procedures for cardiology, general imaging and OB/GYN. The solution is scalable for imaging clinics, hospitals and multi-facility health enterprises and features optional interfacing to clinical or hospital information systems.
syngo Suite brings together image acquisition, RIS, PACS and post-processing, fusing diagnostic and therapeutic cycles with the clinical and administrative cycles addre