The Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) activity seems to be at the same stage as DICOM was several years ago. As a user, there is, first, the challenge to understand all the profiles and, second, how to prioritize among them.

Although data and image storage needs for healthcare facilities are increasing at an exponential pace, vendors are meeting those needs with faster, more efficient solutions—and keeping costs down.

Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) can improve efficiency, reduce medical errors, and save hospitals money. So why have less than 2 percent of American hospitals implemented it?

PACS continues to dominate the RSNA floor. Vendors are rolling out a host of new systems, upgrades and features. Look for greater integration — advanced visualization and PET/CT and mammography functionality are hot in 2006. PACS-RIS integration is tighter, too. And there is some market segmentation and specialization with new solutions geared specifically to small and community hospitals, orthopedic practices, and cardiology.

Vendors are bringing a wide array of 3D imaging tools to RSNA,including integrated displays, enterprise platforms, and advancedworkstations for multiple modalities including orthopedics,mammography, chest, and lung. Also look for software and clinicalsolutions that feature improved accessibility, integration, andfunctionality.

Introducing new ways to improve efficiency and increaseinteroperability are top goals for health information technologyvendors at RSNA 2006. Products that incorporate more features and toolsthan ever into one system will share the health IT limelight. Fromsurgical planning tools to virtual worklists and pre-fetch solutions tosoftware that allows users more functionality from one workstation thanever, health IT vendors are poised to streamline users’ workflow.

Emageon and Vital Images have inked an integration and reselleragreement under which Emageon will resell Vital Images’ Vitrea softwareas an integrated component within its Enterprise Visual Medical System(EVMS).