RSNA Image Share project continues to expand
CHICAGO—The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Image Share network has grown to a registered 6,400 patients and received some positive preliminary feedback, according to a Dec. 1 presentation at the annual meeting of RSNA.
RSNA Image Share is a pilot project, funded by the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, designed to allow radiologists to share medical images with their patients using personal health record (PHR) accounts. Patients could then control and share their own images with selected providers. The project was launched in 2009 and began operations in 2011.
Currently, RSNA Image Share is live at four academic sites and three community sites, and is in the process of extending to 15 other sites in the near future, according to David S. Mendelson, MD, of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
In the first couple years of operation, approximately 30 percent of the 6,400 registered patients have gone home and actually used the PHR, said Mendelson. Patient response has generally been positive, as has the response on the part of providers. The few complaints in the early going of the pilot project have largely stemmed from difficulties in accessing images.
The just-released version 3.0 of the RSNA Image Share interface now allows for de-identification of images for use in clinical trials and more robust provider-to-provider exchange of information with patient consent.
Evan joined TriMed in 2011, writing primarily for Health Imaging. Prior to diving into medical journalism, Evan worked for the Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis. He also has worked in public relations and education. Evan studied journalism at the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on broadcast media.