While upgrading some end-of-life hardware, the Rochester General Health System, Rochester, NY, decided to look into new offerings on the PACS market. As an existing Carestream customer, the health system was open to seeing what new offerings the manufacturer had in its updated software. What they found were zero-footprint viewers, off-site DICOM image-viewing capabilities, and a network that could make the transfer and sharing of images significantly easier for an extensive health network that includes not only rural and urban facilities but also a physician-owned imaging facility. Just as the health network’s technological needs had grown over the years, so had the vendor’s solutions.
Chuck O’Brien, Manager, RIS/PACS, Rochester General Health System
“We currently are using Carestream’s version 10.2 PACS,” says Chuck O’Brien, manager, RIS/PACS, department of diagnostic imaging, Rochester General Health System. “Our 10.2 PACS is on equipment that is end of life. Carestream approached us with their 11.3 product. They had known over the years that we had some issues with some of the stuff that was available, but we were very intrigued when they came to us and showed us the 11.3 product. They allowed us to use our own hardware here so we could purchase servers or even use the VMware. We will be using a VMware solution, which is helpful for us because hospitals today are really looking to get out of owning a whole bunch of different servers and moving toward one platform to hold all of their information.”
The latest generation of Carestream’s Vue PACS offers a global worklist, access to prior imaging exams, and advanced reading tools that can be utilized at remote locations. The new system also offers the Carestream’s Vue Motion zero footprint, a Web-based viewer that provides access to imaging data and patient information by clinicians anytime, anywhere.
“The actual product itself, especially the zero-footprint viewer that they have for outside physicians and physicians in the hospital to use, is a blessing that a lot of other vendors did not offer,” O’Brien said. “It does not use Javascript or anything that conflicts with other applications that the hospital uses. It’s a URL-based application that allows us to pull it up and use it without having to worry about all of this other stuff. Java runs very well, but it doesn’t run well when there are different versions. It’s kind of frustrating. That’s a very wonderful feature for us because that’s a huge part of our service to the community: allowing them to see images in real time.”
Although the Vue Motion viewer has not been designed for diagnostic use, the ability to share images on any computer, as well as mobile devices like iPads, is a significant step for the Rochester General Health System.
The latest generation of Carestream’s Vue PACS offers a global worklist, access to prior imaging exams, and advanced reading tools that can be utilized at remote locations.
The new PACS won’t change the health system’s overall workflow, but some of the features will allow the connected facilities to more quickly and effectively manage images and patients. For example, the streamlined ability to view images off-site assists radiology residents. Rather than having to question a diagnosis, an attending radiologist can view the images at any time, from any location, and confirm the read. In addition, if a patient has been scanned in the physician-owned radiology practice—which will similarly be converting to the newest version of the Carestream PACS—images can be viewed both at the hospital and at the radiology practice to limit repeat scans.
While all of these features make the physicians’ jobs easier, they also work toward the most important goal: improved patient care. Whether it’s the ability to get a patient diagnosed more quickly or shielding them from unnecessary repeat scans and radiation, the latest version of the Carestream Vue PACS will assist Rochester General Health System in delivering optimal patient care.
“I don’t know if the new PACS will change our workflow, but the added features have been wonderful and the enhancements we’re going to see will really help the hospital and the surrounding community,” O’Brien said. “I want to be able to treat a patient and have the patient feel like he got the best care. I really feel that this product will allow us to do that.”
