Diagnostic imaging has gone high tech at Orlando Health. The health organization is the first tertiary care facility in the state of Florida to use a new diagnostic image sharing platform that lets doctors view high resolution test results by computer or I-phone. The organization is primarily using the technology for trauma transfers.

 

Orlando Health first began implementing services through SeeMyRadiology.com, Accelarad's new medical image sharing technology, in February and is now sending and receiving digital images between 75 percent of facilities which routinely refer patients to the organization. Because Orlando Health has a Level 1 trauma center, it mostly receives the images.

 

As recently as last year trauma patients were arriving at Orlando Health with imaging compact disks in hand. But after physicians viewed the images on the disks, it was often discovered that the patient didn't need to be transferred. Other times the CD was delayed, forgotten or in an incompatible format, and many times physicians had to make a transfer decision after speaking to another doctor and listening to a description of diagnostic test results by phone.

 

"The main reason we started using the system was for patient care. We had some cases where we couldn't accept patients because we were full," said Timothy Bullard, MD, chief medical officer at Orlando Regional Medical Center, a part of Orlando Health. "We had some patients who had been transferred in who really didn't need to be there, but it was difficult to tell when the transfer was made. A picture is worth a thousand words. If physicians have a chance to look at the images at the time, they can tell whether a patient needs to be there so hopefully the rooms will go to those that really need one."

 

Physicians have access to all imaged-based tests through the secure platform including x-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs and CT scans, currently the most commonly used "because of the emergent nature," said Bullard. Prior to the implementation of the new technology, Bullard said that 99 percent of transfer decisions were made after listening to descriptions of test results. He said that early research shows that between 30 and 50 percent of decisions to transfer a patient would be different with the new technology.

 

"It's much different when the physician can see that study at the time," said Bullard. "This is a tremendous advantage over the typical triage tool."

 

Currently the technology is primarily used during emergent transfers, though the facility is working to expand the service to all areas of care, which will help ensure patients are not receiving duplicate tests once they arrive at a new facility.

 

"I believe it's also decreasing the number of studies. There is a concern over radiation exposure and this cuts down on exams," Bullard said.

 

Though the technology has been in place for months, there was a bit of a learning and educational curve so it has only recently hit the ground running. Orlando Health is still reaching out to referral hospitals to make it easier during emergencies, when images are needed right away, since the technology would be of little use without the cooperation of other facilities. Carlos Carrasco, director of business development for Orlando Health, said it is very easy for other hospitals to partner with the organization to share the images.

 

"(The software) can be installed on their computers or they can upload to a website. It just depends on how tightly we develop a relationship," he said. "We can even give instructions over the phone."

 

The technology to share images remotely was first developed about 10 years ago, but was rudimentary as compared to today's system. SeeMyRadiology.com's technology was primarily created as a move toward digital prints and away from films. Accelarad President Arman Sharafshahi said the early system was similar to photo sharing site Snapfish. It was generally used only by radiologists to interpret test results. By 2008 most hospitals had switched to completely digital environments, but were dealing with loading dozens of back logged CDs or tracking down forgotten or misplaced disks.

 

"It became unimaginable trying to keep track of those CDs. There would be stacks of 40 just waiting," Sharafshahi said. "Another situation we found quite a bit was with trauma transfers like Orlando Health. Orlando Regional is one of the top trauma centers in 17 counties. When a patient comes in with serious trauma they transfer to a Level 1 trauma. Without our solution they accept every patient airlifted, which is very expensive, and admit them to the ICU. But a lot of times they find out more information and learn the patient didn't need to be transferred."

 

He noted that in addition to offering the service to hospitals and doctors, the service is also offered for patients, though it is currently only available to patients with serious chronic conditions like cancer. Eventually he hopes it will be offered to all patients who can request that images be included with their remote files, giving them more ownership over their medical records. But for now the focus will be on eliminating disks and better facilitating trauma transfers.

 

It can improve revenue significantly. The operating room suite can be prepared. The surgeon can be ready," said Sharafshahi. "It improves total quality of care and helps avoid non-essential transfers."