PACS & RIS Dominate RSNA

The expansion of the PACS market was apparent in the Windy City as vendors touted a host of new image management solutions. The industry's attention to both enterprise and niche needs was clear. There are more cardio PACS options and new solutions geared to the orthopedics market. Vendors are making it easier for radiology departments and imaging centers to cross the last hurdles to filmlessness by providing new solutions for sharing digital images everywhere - including the OR and referring physician office.

Other highlights included tools to simplify data migration and provide proactive monitoring. Integrated orthopedic templating and 3D capabilities were hot as well. Radiology dashboards that provide a bird's eye view of the department and data analysis functions were on full display at several booths.

RIS vendors touted new tools like simplified scheduling and new billing modules. Finally, teleradiology providers shared their business models and hinted at future expansions.
 

Advanced Data Systems (ADS) launched ADS RIS/PACS with Multi-Modality Scheduling, Electronic Document and Imaging Management, DICOM Modality Work List, Voice Recognition, Bar Coding, Electronic Signature, DICOM and HL7 Connectivity and full integration with ADS PACS. 
 

Agfa's Healthcare Business Group debuted IMPAX 6.0 and IMPAX Enterprise and highlighted new features of IMPAX SMMS.

IMPAX 6.0 features a personal-based workflow and smart client technology to meet the requirements of administrators, radiologists, PACS administrators, technologists, clinicians and IT specialists.

Agfa's IMPAX Enterprise encompasses individual IMPAX RIS, Reporting, Auditing and Integration Services and Solution Monitoring and Management Services (SMMS), anchored by IMPAX 6.0 PACS. Agfa's integrated workflow approach gives enterprise onsite and remote users the ability to:

• Securely access patient images, past studies, key RIS information and procedure reports with a single log-on
• Access image processing tools and features to help automate workflow and boost throughput
• Maximize uptime and facilitate regulatory compliance, while easing deployment and daily system maintenance
• Integrate legacy investments and new acquisitions
• IMPAX SMMS is a 24/7 proactive monitoring service that continually analyzes Agfa systems to detect potential technical issues.

AMICAS, Inc. launched the Vision Reach software system, AMICAS Imaging Dashboard and AMICAS Office Solutions.

Vision Reach integrates the radiology report with key images to create a single "multi-media" report for referring physicians. The solution includes an instant messaging system that uses common e-mail and secure messaging to deliver images, reports and information to any e-mail enabled device.

The AMICAS Imaging Dashboard is embedded within the Vision Series PACS to provide a fully real time, customizable, digital dashboard for complete visualization of all patients, images and key metrics of an imaging facility's operations.

AMICAS Office Solutions is a suite of ambulatory focused, web-based RIS and PACS packages aimed at increasing the efficiency and productivity of outpatient imaging centers and specialty clinics.

AMIRSYS announced integration of STATdx with Sectra PACS to provide diagnostic clinical decision support to radiologists and other physicians at the point-of-care and enable a PACS user to automatically obtain diagnostic clinical decision support information at the PACS workstation.

BRIT Systems exhibited the Exam Loop concept. It features monitoring and tracking tools that assist administrators in determining study and patient flow throughout departments.

Cerner Corp. highlighted new features on Cerner ProVision PACS, Cerner CV Net and Cardiology PACS and enhancements to its MultiMedia Foundation.

New ProVision features include virtual colonoscopy, PET/CT fusion and calcium scoring.

Cerner CVNet and Cardiology PACS manage cardiology images and digital media from a single repository and unify cardiovascular diagnostic activities, therapeutic interventions and follow up regimens into a single electronic medical record history.

Cerner MultiMedia Foundation (MMF) supports the inclusion of diagnostic images, ECG waveforms, fetal monitor strips, photographs, video images and other multimedia components into the patient's electronic health record. New features include pathology DICOM imaging with an Olympus partnership.

CoActiv Medical Business Solutions released EXAM-PACS-ORTHO and highlighted its Enhanced Dual-Level Redundant Monitoring Service.

EXAM-PACS-ORTHO addresses the requirements of the orthopedic practice and incorporates a fully integrated copy of OrthoView's Orthopaedic Templating application, including the new Pediatric Assessment Tool set. 

CoActiv's Enhanced Dual-Level Redundant Monitoring Service is a proactive monitoring service that provides a double layer of up-time protection, insuring automated monitoring of all essential PACS.

DeJarnette Research Systems displayed its PACS Migration Gateway technology and PACSware Intelligent Router technology.

The PACS Migration Gateway technology addresses the need for sophisticated data cleansing algorithms during PACS Migration. PACSware Intelligent Router technology provides intelligent routing between dissimilar PACS products, providing real-time routing and pre-fetching of studies to non-vendor supplied workstations. 

DR Systems exhibited enhanced cardiology and mammography PACS capabilities, along with improved RIS features to facilitate a complete electronic medical record as part of Release 8.

Windows XP-based Release 8 uses "Smart Client" technology that combines web-based and client-server functionality. The release offers full integration of mammography PACS capabilities, including a smooth interface to CAD systems; enhanced patient management tools for the RIS; an updated user interface; an enhanced cardiology component; integration of TraumaCad and Vital Images Vitrea 2 and enhancement of Web Dominator, the internet application that allows online reading of medical imaging exams on remotely located home or office computers.

Dynamic Imaging debuted IntegradWeb RIS/PACS and IntegradWeb PACS.

IntegradWeb RIS/PACS provides a single, unified radiology desktop powered by an end-to-end, web-based workflow that includes scheduling through billing as well as document management and digital dictation.

IntegradWeb PACS version 3.5 features extended integration to a host of third-party applications including:

• Dictaphone PowerScribe for single-click voice recognition;
• Integrated document management for paperless operations;
• OrthoTools powered by Orthocrat TraumaCad for web-based orthopedic templating and planning software;
• Barco Voxar 3D embedded integration for 3D rendering anywhere, with single-click saving of reconstructions back to the original study;
• TeraRecon AquariusNET for server-based 3D rendering;
• Vital Images Vitrea 2 for 3D and advanced visualization;
• Fusion7D PET/CT, multi-modal image review, co-registration and analysis; and
• Medimage MedView for advanced nuclear medicine applications.

Emageon Inc. touted an agreement with Orthocrat Ltd. to distribute TraumaCad orthopedic surgical planning applications. 

Emdeon Practice Services shared Intergy PACS and Intergy RIS. Intergy web-based PACS provides designated users from both inside and outside a practice with a single, unified view of critical information. The Intergy RIS features integrated Intergy billing, patient flow tracking, appointment scheduling, split billing and other RIS functions. The Intergy RIS is equipped with HL7 support to allow the exchange of critical information with hospitals or billing services.

eRAD introduced the e3 paradigm of image management and showcased 3D capabilities.

eRAD PACS Classic Edition is a scaleable, cost-effective solution for web-based teleradiology and the imaging center environment. Options are provided a la carte, allowing the system to evolve with the customer needs. The eRAD PACS Enterprise Edition is designed for high volume demands and with multi-site operations. The eRAD PACS PAL - PACS Accessory Line includes tools to extend the workplace and the utility of PACS. PAL applications include: web access for legacy PACS, query of multi-vendor PACS, integration of departmental mini-PACS and radiology group access to multiple PACS.

eRAD PACS solutions will be offered with web-enabled 3D or VOXAR 3D software from Barco.

Evolved highlighted View2 - its web-based platform that unites cardiology and radiology. Authorized users can access the system from any PC at any site, with no extra cost and no need for special equipment. View2 offers high-resolution 3D viewing, plus two types of static and dynamic 2D viewing.

FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA launched Synapse version 3.1.1 and Fuji Online Customer information Service (FOCIS). The company also announced specific design criteria for Synapse Comprehension that are currently in development.

Synapse 3.1.1 includes immediate access to pre-transcribed reports using digital voice files, report integration with other systems such as DICOM CD burners using structured reports, user-specified canned notes, flashing stat notification and enhanced sorting capabilities within Synapse worklists, additional support for viewing multi-page documents and the automated presentation of scanned orders.

FOCIS is a new set of service tools designed to help facilities easily manage support and upgrades related to their Synapse installation. 

GE Healthcare unveiled its Centricity Radiology Business Intelligence Portal and mammography workflow module, shared enterprise imaging solutions and highlighted service solutions.

Centricity Radiology Business Intelligence Portal provides customers with web-enabled access to information about the utilization of departmental resources via a PC or laptop computer. It gives administrators real-time feedback on exam statuses, patient wait times, department performance and equipment utilization and status.

GE integrated a new digital mammography workflow module to its Centricity PACS product that allows customers to read digital mammography images on their PACS workstation while providing access to historical multi-modality exams.

The company also highlighted its reading room design and OR solutions, including ergonomic workstations and voice activated and hand motion PACS navigation. Finally, GE shared its Hospital of the Future concept. This new construction service offering designs and builds hospitals around workflow using the Six Sigma tools to deliver costs savings and productivity gains.

IDX Systems Corp. launched Imagecast PACS for Orthopedics as well as talking up its pending acquisition by GE Healthcare. 

Imagecast PACS for Orthopedics offers comprehensive tools for orthopedic image review, analysis and preoperative planning. It helps ensure that surgeons enter the operating room equipped with the tools, instruments and implants they need. It includes a library of templates and fixation elements for total hip, total knee, shoulder and elbow replacements, as well as tools for measuring Cobb angle and transischial line measurement.

Imco Technologies featured a new PACS product called VIP-PACS positioned as an affordable, fully featured PACS for smaller healthcare facilities. It consists of three versions - basic, standard and premium - and includes flat-panel monitors, the full-featured IMCO-view workstation software that is sold on the larger IMCO-PACS product, enough image storage for smaller facilities, and IMCO-web in the premium package.

Intelerad Medical Systems launched the next-generation INTELEVIEWER Workstation and INTELEVIEWER Web.

INTELEVIEWER Workstation edition features full DICOM support, thumbnail display, cine, linked stacking, MPR, annotations and measurements, key image creation and one-click CD burning.

INTELEVIEWER Web features unlimited user licenses, lossless storage compression, configurable JPEG 2000 streaming by modality, web-based tools to handle user and user group management, user auditing reports, thumbnail display, measurement tools, cine, linked stacking, MPR, optional HL7 report integration and more.

Intuitive Imaging Informatics launched 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. It can support a multiple monitor configuration to accommodate diagnostic use. The all-Java solution runs on any platform for referring physicians.
 

Kodak's Health Group demonstrated its new CARESTREAM solutions and launched WINDOWS.

CARESTREAM Radiology Solutions help automate the diagnostic exam process and enable fast and efficient storage, distribution and on-demand retrieval of a patient's entire radiology record to authorized users and CARESTREAM Information Management Solutions provide access to images and information beyond the walls of institutions as part of eHealth solutions.

WINDOWS bundles a PACS workstation with a storage server and with Kodak computed radiography systems to offer an affordable digital imaging solution for imaging centers, clinics or smaller hospitals.
 

McKesson Corp. launched Horizon Cardiology, Rad Station eJacket and Horizon Optical Imaging.

Horizon Cardiology is an integrated cardiovascular image and information management system (CVIS) that provides diagnostic image management, archiving, procedure reporting and workflow management and integrates reports, waveforms and measurements into the patient's complete record. McKesson' Horizon Cardiology stands as a complete CVIS for cath, hemodynamic monitoring, echocardiography, vascular ultrasound and nuclear cardiology.

Horizon Rad Station eJacket enables quick access to exams results via a web browser. eJacket provides referring physicians with portable access to information from the diagnostic imaging service for ordered studies.

Horizon Optical Imaging enables digital automation of analog diagnostic specialties. Clinicians can take an analog diagnostic device and turn it into a fully DICOM-enabled digital modality to enable digital capture of still and cine images. Image storage, archiving and viewing is supported by McKesson's Horizon Medical Imaging PACS.

Medweb unveiled Medweb Advanced 3D Web PACS, Mobile OR Gateway and Workstation and Medweb Dashboard.

Medweb Advanced 3D Web PACS allows users on a standard personal computer to take advantage of advanced 3D templating and auto segmenting of image data from CT scanners. 

Mobile OR Gateway and Workstation with a DICOM digital video recorder (DVR) provides a fully integrated DICOM acquisition and viewing application for the OR.

Medweb Dashboard allows single or multi-site radiology groups to seamlessly share and balance their workloads between multiple PACS and HIS/RIS from a variety of vendors, enabling radiologists to selectively perform reads. 

Merge eMed debuted FUSION RIS, FUSION MATRIX PACS and FUSION RIS/PACS.

FUSION RIS incorporates more than 60 user suggested enhancements including embedded document management and digital dictation. A practice analysis tool allows users to analyze business and clinical datasets.

FUSION MATRIX PACS (formerly eMed Matrix) provides 64-bit processing that enables users to load, view, compare and manipulate numerous large multislice studies to deliver performance computing. Based upon the .NET platform, this product targets loading large data sets such as multislice CT. 

FUSION RIS/PACS MX unifies RIS, PACS, dictation, document management, web-enabled distribution of clinical and business information, billing and practice analysis workflow. Built on a .Net platform, The Enterprise Web solution features a customizable toolbar and supports instant messaging and voice over IP with a link to the study. It provides image and results access to hospital departments, on call radiologists and referring physician practices.

Misys Healthcare Systems showed new features on Misys PIM and launched Misys Image Management 5.2 and Misys Radiology 5.0.

Misys PIM (PACS integration module) interfaces with any PACS to provide DICOM services that eliminate the need for a broker between Misys Radiology and any PACS vendor solution. The bilingual solution speaks both DICOM and HL7 to enable RIS/PACS synchronization. New PIM tools include structured reporting and improvements to the MPPS (modality performed procedure step) to expand the exam discontinue options.

Misys Image Management 5.2 supports multiple archives and includes dynamic zoom and integrated voice recognition.

The new Misys Radiology RIS release features hold queue, which provides a mechanism for having orders reviewed prior to putting these forward as verified orders. Structured reporting encodes structured information using a hierarchical tree of content items that employs DICOM Object Syntax. 

Neurostar Solutions introduced its Virtual Radiology Community Website and VRN 2.0.

Neurostar's VRN version 2.0 includes new features that tie into the website and is complemented by the new PACS-In-A-Flash. 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. VRN's Intelligent Virtual Workflow engine maintains up-to-date worklists for downloaded images through automated online synchronization with the central VRN. A web-based control dashboard streamlines administration and maintenance.

NovaRad Corp. released NovaRIS, NovaPACS, NovaWeb Lite and NovaPACS Cardio Viewer.

NovaRIS tracks patient information, procedures, exam status and reimbursements for radiology departments and imaging centers. It is web-based for paperless-oriented management and designed to generate reports, analyze exams, measure profitability and bill insurance companies.

NovaPACS is an enterprise level, scalable PACS with 3D imaging, fast image retrieval, full-featured viewer, brokerless integration and all-inclusive support.

NovaWeb Lite provides access to studies in a JPEG file format for referring physicians and others who may not have a PACS, use an older-model computer or don't have high-speed internet access.

NovaPACS Cardio Viewer is available as a standalone module or can be added to an existing NovaRad Enterprise workstation. It offers single sign-on access to images on the PACS or over a website.
 

ODS Medical announced upgrades and functions for PACScomm to comprise a mini-PACS archive and launched PACScomm 2.3.

ODS added 400GB of storage to position PACScomm as a short-term working PACS archive. The 400GB working archive, along with PACScomm's Auto Archive function, provides a mini-PACS archive that includes off-line archive management.

PACScomm 2.3 adds the ability to span studies across multiple pieces of media, supporting both CD and DVD spanning. It also adds support of DICOM structured reports for capability to include reports to the recorded CD content. Other enhancements include mixed media support, which enables the system to be configured to automatically switch between CDR and DVDR media based on the selected record data set size.

Philips Medical Systems highlighted integration with iSite PACS, showed Xtenity Patient Portal and Xtenity Enterprise.

Integrating Stentor's technologies into Philips Healthcare IT portfolio, the Philips iSite PACS transmits medical images in less than three seconds and requires minimal hardware costs. Philips iSite PACS is sold with a "pay-per-study" business model.

The Xtenity Patient Portal brings EHRs into the home and allows patients to actively participate in their healthcare decisions. Self-service options give patients the ability to request appointments, check medications, view lab results and learn more about their medical conditions.

Xtenity Enterprise facilitates centralized data sharing with one comprehensive database. Xtenity includes a clinical data repository, registration, scheduling, ADT, billing, inpatient and ambulatory applications built on a single platform.  Xtenity Enterprise includes applications designed to address the needs of different specialty departments. Xtenity RIS is available at the desktop with Philips diagnostic systems, workstations and other IT systems and can be interfaced to current hospital enterprise infrastructure using standards-based interfaces.

RADinfo SYSTEMS Inc. introduced their new entry-level PACS called Micro PowerPACS. The system is vendor neutral and can integrate with any DICOM modality.

RamSoft unveiled RamSoft PowerServer Tele for Teleradiology, PowerCache and Gateway.

PowerServer Tele provides web-based tools designed to improve productivity, streamline workflow and reduce operating costs. Features include interpretation software, document management, dictation and transcription.

PowerCache downloads image datasets only once, even if significant changes are made after acquisition enabling sites to replace T1 lines with low cost DSL or cable.

Gateway provides PACS features in a stand-alone solution. It prefetches from DICOM archives and routes to destinations across the network. It connects to all modalities, printers, workstations and servers.

Rogan-Delft launched Redundant Array of Inexpensive Servers (RAIS), Online XS PACS Archive and View Pro-X v 2.1.

RAIS provides a cost-effective, fast and fully redundant PACS solution that can be installed over a large area or even nationwide. It provides uncompressed images within seconds regardless the date of the exam and adapts to any workflow.

Online XS PACS Archive uses all available technologies from Rogan-Delft, including the Everything-On-Line (EOL), Multiple Archive Storage Servers (MASS) and Redundant Array of Inexpensive Servers (RAIS) solutions. As all the information is always directly online in an uncompressed format, no pre-fetching of older studies is needed. The OnLine XS is also available as a mini-PACS solution.

View Pro-X v2.1 offers dedicated mammography and orthopedic functionality to allow radiologists to use a single application to handle multiple dedicated processes.

ScImage announced a strategic partnership with Source Medical to provide an integrated RIS/PACS solution specifically designed for outpatient imaging centers and showcased PICOM Power Console. Source Medical's native web-based RIS, SourceRad, is being extended to include ScImage's PicomEnterprise PACS functionality, including online archiving and disaster recovery services. It is geared for imaging centers and runs on existing Windows-based PCs with internet access.

PICOM Power Console is a dashboard interface that provides access to prior reports and hangs relevant priors.

Sectra focused on its "Your PACS is Our PACS" campaign and showcased new remote monitoring and support features. The company extended direct service and support offering to include all Sectra PACS users and displayed new features regarding remote monitoring and support at RSNA.

Sectra PACS-Guard reports problems directly to the Sectra PACS-Guard monitor, for immediate corrective action. It provides real-time 24x7 monitoring of critical system performance and extends Sectra's ability to provide remote service and support.

Siemens Medical Solutions announced the syngo Suite and highlighted a strategic partnership with NextGen Healthcare Information Systems.

The suite helps healthcare enterprises meet the twin goals of improving quality and reducing costs, Siemens said. Working across all modalities and offering RIS, PACS, and post-processing in a comprehensive package, the syngo Suite includes syngo Imaging-Siemens' radiology PACS; syngo Workflow and syngo Dynamics multi-modality, dynamic image review, diagnosis and archiving system.

The NextGen Healthcare Information Systems/Siemens partnership provides an end-to-end workflow solution for standalone diagnostic imaging centers.

SmartPACS/Infinitt North America unveiled Infinitt Radiology Suite. Infinitt Radiology Suite is a web-based, modular solution that fuses RIS, PACS and 3D functions on a 64-bit Windows operating system.

Thinking Systems unveiled enhancements to its multi-modality, web-based ThinkingPACS that includes support for co-registration and fusion of independently acquired images in a full range of modalities including CT, MR, PET and SPECT. Also new is direct support for dual-modality SPECT-CT scanners with dedicated image fusion software for these images. ThinkingPACS rounds out its orthopedic offerings with seamlessly integrated orthopedic planning features including a full library of digital templates of offerings from most major orthopedic manufacturers. The company also showed fully integrated 3D processing including MPR, MIP and volume rendering for all modalities.

Witt Biomedical Corp. debuted CALYSTO for Invasive Radiology system and its new Smart Proactive Observation Technology (SPOT). CALYSTO for Invasive Radiology features point-of-care electronic charting, monitoring, billing and reporting.

Smart Proactive Observation Technology (SPOT) is an optional service that utilizes advanced software to remotely monitor customers' cardiology enterprise hardware, operating systems and applications.