Carestream Health and the San Salvatore Hospital in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo Region of Italy, are developing a module for the KODAK CARESTREAM Radiology Information System (RIS) that allows General Practitioners (GPs) within the region to directly book digital X-ray examinations for their patients and receive the results back on their PC. The first project of its kind in Italy, a pilot study is currently underway involving 60 GPs with plans to have the system fully operational with 90 doctors by the middle of 2009.
When a doctor identifies the need to carry out a routine X-ray s/he completes the clinical symptom form online, indicating a proposed period for the examination. On receiving the proposal, the hospital progresses the request according to the level of urgency and planned workflow within the radiology department. The doctor receives an immediate response of date and time and following the procedure receives feedback about the examination, the report and the images.
"We have set up a type of computerised round trip between the hospital and the GPs," explains Professor Carlo Masciocchi, Director of Radiology at San Salvatore de L'Aquila. "GPs can either book the investigation directly from their PC or ask the hospital to do it. In return, they receive the date of the examination to be notified to the patient. All this is in real time, with no queuing or waiting and no need for the patient to come to the San Salvatore Hospital several times."
It is also anticipated that the project will open clinician debate and dialogue with the aim of evaluating the relevance of each type of examination. The RIS module is developed to enable each patient to be paired with the referring physician and provide the hospital with relevant data about each examination request.
To-date feedback has been very positive with GPs not only accepting the new system, but also impressed by discussions about the aptness of the examinations to be performed.
"Evaluating how appropriate an examination is from a radiological point of view is highly relevant," added Professor Masciocchi. "Sharing knowledge will lead to better evaluation of the appropriateness of requests, progressive control over the demand for X-ray investigations and streamlining the services provided."
General Manager at the hospital, Roberto Marzetti added, "We have overcome initial uncertainty from GPs with this ambitious project and the relationship with Carestream Health has been the keystone. Carestream Health implemented our RIS/PACS system in 2005, becoming operational within the first month and the hospital completely filmless within one year. This timescale illustrates impressive operational efficiency."
KODAK CARESTREAM RIS, part of KODAK CARESTREAM Radiology Solutions, comprises intelligent cutting-edge technology with advanced flexibility and ease of use that can be tailored to suit existing workflows. The system features automated order entry, Web communications, multiple site scheduling, monitoring, integration with PACS and worklist management to automate the patient's diagnostic journey from order entry to result distribution.
Carestream Health, an independent company, has licensed the KODAK brand for use with its own brandssuch as CARESTREAM, DIRECTVIEW and DRYVIEWacross its portfolio of leading-edge medical imaging and healthcare IT products.
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About Carestream Health, Inc.
Carestream Health, Inc., is a leading provider of dental and medical imaging systems and healthcare IT solutions; molecular imaging systems for the life science research and drug discovery/development market segments; and x-ray film and digital x-ray products for the non-destructive testing market. The company was formed in 2007 when Onex Corporation (TSX: OCX.TO) purchased Eastman Kodak Companys Health Group. For more information about Carestream Health, contact your Carestream Health representative or visit www.carestreamhealth.com.
CARESTREAM is a trademark of Carestream Health, Inc.
KODAK is a trademark of Kodak used under license.