The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and Carequality have developed the Imaging Data Exchange Implementation Guide Supplement, expanding the scope of the Carequality Interoperability Framework to detail technical standards that enable the exchange of medical images. The publication is the result of RSNA’s partnership with Carequality and the Sequoia Project.
Currently, CDs and DVDs are the most common method of transmitting medical images. Patients frequently endure inconvenience, delay, and expense in obtaining images and shuttling them among their care providers. A significant number of redundant imaging exams are performed each year simply because prior images are not readily available. Network-based access to medical images addresses these quality, safety, and efficiency issues in radiologic care.
Publication of the supplement was announced at a town hall event on December 2, 2019, during the RSNA’s 105th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting in Chicago. David S. Mendelson, MD, FACR, senior associate in clinical informatics and vice chair of Radiology IT at The Mount Sinai Health System, and Curtis P. Langlotz, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and biomedical informatics research at Stanford University Medical Center and RSNA Board Liaison for Information Technology and Annual Meeting, spoke about RSNA’s longstanding efforts to develop and implement standards to enable secure and convenient network-based access to medical images.
Also at the event, Donald Rucker, MD, the national coordinator of Health Information Technology, spoke about the high value his agency places on enabling patient access to their complete medical record, including, critically, their imaging records, and Geraldine B. McGinty, MD, MBA, FACR, chair of the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors discussed the ACR’s shared commitment to this goal, championed through the #DitchtheDisk campaign.
The event also recognized Ambra Health, Life Image, and Philips Healthcare for committing to be early adopters of the Carequality Imaging Data Exchange Implementation program. RSNA and Carequality welcome other imaging vendors to join them in the program.
“We are truly entering the era of safe, secure and expeditious exchange of imaging information, making it easily accessible for the patient’s benefit, when the patient most needs it,” Mendelson said. “We encourage other networks that support imaging to join and extend the availability of patient imaging exams.”
