Health IT Merges Clinical Insight, Better Workflow

Health IT vendors are helping to answer the call that healthcare facilities must work smarter. At RSNA 2007, vendors are showing increased functionality in their software, tools that improve workflow efficiency and offerings that assist with everything from scheduling to billing to electronic signature and reporting. Scalable solutions, improved networking capability, tighter integration and workstations that offer “one-stop shopping” are sharing the showtime limelight.

Advantech (Booth 3151) is showcasing its ARK-1000 series of compact, embedded computers, and demonstrating its first network video solution, the DVG-1100, a single channel, full motion MPEG4 video server. With mature development on the network infrastructure and more devices connected to the IP network, the DVG-1100 provides gateway functions to convert analog video signals to digital video streams over the IP network.

Agfa HealthCare (Booth 4106) is demonstrating its ORBIS Clinical Information System. ORBIS Live encompasses administrative processes including admission/transfer/discharge, order entry, results reporting, document management, and general and administrative admissions. ORBIS Care offers a complete Clinician Charting and Documentation module.

Amicas (Booth 2853) is launching a new version of Vision Series RIS that introduces advanced work queues to optimize order entry and scheduling workflows, and advances in native HL7 integration capabilities and in scalability for complex practices.

Amicas is displaying Vision Series Document Management, an enterprise document management solution with electronic capture, storage and management of documents. Vision Series Financials uses automation tools to automate revenue cycle management.
 

Amirsys (Booth 1003) is showing STATdx, the first point-of-care, clinical decision support system for imaging. STATdx Expert Differential Diagnosis generates key differentials including common, less common, and rare, but important, diagnoses.  STATdx streamlines workflow by reducing the time required to research and complete a difficult imaging analysis.

Aspyra (Booth 3307) is demonstrating its CyberRAD RIS which offers end-to-end solutions that automate processes at every point of patient and encounter workflow. Using a Windows platform, CyberRAD focuses on advanced scheduling, film management and electronic signature.

	Carestream: Carestream RIS/PACS workstation with voice

Carestream Health (Booth 2513) is featuring its new Kodak Carestream RIS Standard Configuration and the latest version of Carestream RIS. A mammography module includes specialized scheduling, patient communication and reporting capabilities.

Carestream also is featuring its Kodak Carestream Digital Dashboard that now supports monitoring of Kodak Carestream RIS operations. The dashboard allows for proactive monitoring of equipment performance, storage utilization and user volumes.

Cedara Software (Booth 1316) is showcasing its Fusion RIS MX solution which offers enterprise-wide licensing and scaleable design; flexible scheduling options that allow customers to fine-tune scheduling workflow and optimize room utilization; embedded modules for applications such as document management and dictation to facilitate seamless, paperless workflow; and billing capabilities tied tightly to the RIS workflow. 

CoActiv Medical Business Solutions (Booth 5741) is introducing Exam-RIS, a fully web-based RIS tightly integrated with the CoActiv web-based enterprise Exam-PACS. The new RIS includes single and multi-site scheduling, multi-site billing, document scanning, web-based dictation, transcription, exam report templating, custom management reports, and HL7 integration with HIS and billing.

CodeRyte (Booth 2576) is showcasing its computer-assisted coding solution and showing by customer example how it works. Prior to CodeRyte, one customer relied on spreadsheets to manually track the work of eight full-time coders. After CodeRyte, the customer saved nearly $1,000 a month in overtime, reduced its full-time coding staff from eight to three, cut report turnaround time from six days to less than 24 hours, and has a medical necessity denial rate of less than 1 percent.

Compressus (Booth 5924) is showcasing several product enhancements to the MEDxConnect system, which delivers optimized workflow management for enterprise interoperability.

Pertinent Pre-Fetching is an enhanced rules-based tool to access prior studies and data.  In addition to the requested data, Pertinent Pre-Fetching tools give users a snapshot of all available data to ensure that critical information is not missed. MEDxConnect’s Optimized Diagnostic Workflow feature adds intelligent routing to the Virtual Worklist, based on physician work patterns and exam review throughput. This maintains maximum productivity in the exam review and reporting process, while reducing bandwidth issues.

Eclipsys (Booth 6959) is highlighting its integrated clinical, revenue cycle and access management software. Diagnostic Imaging Solutions, featuring Sunrise Radiology, is a fully scalable system that can be integrated with the Eclipsys Sunrise Clinical Manager for a robust imaging solution. The latest release of Sunrise Radiology offers enhancements to online scheduling by physicians, speech recognition, and support for PACS-driven workflow with third-party PACS.

Fujifilm Medical Systems USA (Booth 1129) is showing as a work in progress its expanded data model for Synapse PACS which will allow greater diagnostic efficiency through enhanced workflow and greater information access. Fuji also is demonstrating the tight integration of Empiric Systems Encompass.NET RIS functionality that provides a customizable solution.

GE Healthcare (Booth 1729) is demonstrating its Centricity Radiology solution, which joins GE’s Centricity PACS product with the Centricity RIS-IC (formerly known as IDX Imagecast). The system allows radiologists to manage workflow and leverage a common radiology information system across multiple locations. Additionally, clinicians have immediate access to significant clinical findings and associated images as well as tools for reducing errors inherent with manual data entry.

InSiteOne (Booth 8308) is launching a new generation of its services roadmap, InDex 5, which will expand the tools to manage information for the life of clinical data, and incorporate a revised set of web-enabled administration functions for reporting and configuration management across virtual storage assets.

McKesson (Booth 2542) is showcasing its enterprise cardiology product offerings and Revenue Management Solutions. Horizon Cardiology 11.1 CVIS supports hemodynamic monitoring, cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, vascular, nuclear reporting and CPACS on a single platform. McKesson’s soon-to-be released ECG solution features multi-vendor interface capabilities. The Revenue Management Solutions business intelligence and reporting too provides access to billing and accounts receivable information.

Merge Healthcare (Booth 1122) is featuring its Fusion RIS MX solution. Fusion RIS MX 3.30 contains additional capabilities such as improved fax service, external order ID tracking workflow and national provider number.

Key elements of the Fusion RIS MX solution include enterprise-wide licensing and scaleable design; flexible scheduling options that allow customers to fine-tune scheduling workflow and optimize room utilization; embedded modules for applications such as document management and dictation, to facilitate seamless, paperless workflow; and billing capabilities tied tightly to the RIS workflow.

Neurostar Solutions (Booth 3582) is debuting its Virtual Practice Management (VPM) package for providers of offsite radiology reading. Developed to streamline business operations, VPM features include universal, cross-client order entry; order tracking and management; support of multiple reports, including preliminary, final and consults; permanent storage of orders and reports; and billing reports to track receivables by client.

	NovaRad: NovaRIS 7.0

NovaRad Corporation (Booth 6537) is highlighting its NovaRIS 7.0 which offers tighter integration, enhanced image access, and scheduling/billing/process management for radiologists and administrative staff. NovaRIS runs on the same open source platform as NovaPACS to ensure seamless integration between the two systems.

New with this latest release is NovaCentral, an improved command center that enables NovaRad’s customer support team to remotely monitor in real time all of the critical functions of the customer’s RIS/PACS.

	Philips: XIRIS radiology information system

Philips Medical Systems (Booth 4129) is showcasing its XIRIS radiology information system, which facilitates collaboration. XIRIS automates tasks such as scheduling, organizing, reporting, tracking, dictating, transcribing and distributing detailed patient information into reports containing exam images. XIRIS is the first enterprise RIS designed to support the medical industry and management methodologies. XIRIS can be integrated into a new or existing center via its own HL7 Broker or DICOM Worklist Manager. It also shares information across multiple centers with Multi-center RIS-Backbone.

Philips Xcelera streamlines clinical workflow and reconciles the multi-modality, multi-vendor flow of clinical information, spanning early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Xcelera integrates with third-party information systems and offers scalable solutions to address various configuration requirements. It can also leverage iSite as a long-term archive, shared with radiology, so that infrastructure as well as images can be shared throughout the enterprise.

RADinfo Systems (Booth 4171) is launching DICOMmail, designed for sending DICOM-compliant images through email systems. DICOMmail converts files into DICOM format, if needed. The DICOMmail Viewer is based on RADinfo Systems’ FDA-approved RSVS visualization technology. DICOMmail Send allows the user to drag and drop an image into the software for delivery to any email address.

RIS Concepts (Booth 5909) is introducing a range of advanced features to support rapid workflow. An advanced exam scheduling wizard for multi-site facilities searches across locations to select the first appointment available for a specific modality. Also new is an exclusive RIS Concepts RadSpeak feature that utilizes templates and macros to streamline web-based dictation. When accessed, RadSpeak presents the user with a range of exam report templates. Radiologists also can create an unlimited number of custom voice-controlled templates.

RIS Concepts also is introducing its RAD-RIS, a comprehensive RIS solution fine-tuned for the needs of radiologists reading for multiple facilities.

ScImage (Booth 2551) is displaying its PicomRIS, an IHE-compliant RIS that complements the company’s flagship web-based enterprise-wide PACS, PicomEnterprise.

PicomRIS alone provides tools for exam ordering, scheduling, film tracking and billing. Patient reporting can be accomplished using either the built-in transcriptionist module along with digital dictation or self-edited Dragon-based speech recognition for reporting. The standards-based system leverages DICOM and HL7 to satisfy IHE requirements for interoperability with any number of clinical information systems.

Adding PicomRIS to PicomEnterprise results in a fully integrated clinical and business workflow solution. The single database solution provides a single point of entry for patient data and workflow management.

Siemens Medical Solutions (Booth 7713) is showcasing its syngo software platform, including RIS, PACS, post-processing and distribution.
syngo Portal Radiologist is structured for radiologists performing medical checks, reading images and signing off on reports. This structure displays the daily scheduled procedures and the relevant information for the user in his or her main task area. Siemens also is showing a new cardiology image management and reporting solution, syngo Dynamics version 6. 

Siemens is displaying the REMIND platform (Reliable Extraction and Meaningful Inference from Nonstructured Data), which searches through all patient records analyzing information in unstructured and structured form.

Siemens is displaying its Soarian Clinicals, which combines departmental solutions with core clinical information system components to provide a complete clinical information solution.

Sony Electronics (Booth 2571) is showing its IPELA PCS-HG90 High-Definition, IP-based Visual Communication System. High-definition imagery allows users to see details of a patient’s anatomy with four times the resolution of standard-definition technology.

With an advanced H.264 HD video codec and high-resolution and high frame rate of 1280 x 720 60P/30P, the Sony PCS-HG90 offers realistic and lifeline images even on large-screen displays.

Swearingen Software (Booth 6951) is releasing the RISynergy Results Viewer, a new feature that allows referring physicians to view transcription report results for their patients over the internet using just a standard web browser.

TeraMedica (Booth 7109) is showcasing its new Evercore - SOAR (Service Oriented Architecture Repository) platform which was built using standard SOA methodology. It uses industry standard web services protocols which allow Evercore Clinical Information Manager (CIM) to operate as a SOA. This platform allows hospitals and healthcare systems to choose best-of-breed when shopping for modalities and departmental systems.

ThinAir Data (Booth 5528) is demonstrating TeleRIS, designed specifically to manage multiple contracts and facilities. The common interface provides single sign-on capabilities and is designed to help users automate workflows, meet service level agreements, automate reports and maximize professional resources.