Filmless Imaging Technology (FIT)

Radiology Imaging Now Streamed Into MD3

One of the new benefits of MD3 is the ability to easily receive a patient's radiological images directly into the clinical record, associated with the radiology written report. This is a totally unique capability now available for MD3 users.

Filmless Image Technology (FIT) from DDI Health is the image streaming web server that your Radiology provider implements within their digital environment to 'stream the image view' into the results window adjacent to the Radiologist's report. The result is that it provides you with a simple and quick way to view these images with your patient enabling a more efficient and informative consultation.

The graphic below gives a snapshot of the image viewing associated with the written report.

DDI Health, www.ddihealth.com, Ph 1300 656 219 info@ddihealth.com

Want to know more? Read the Frequently Asked Questions or contact HCN today 1300 300 161 or gpsales@hcn.com.au

Frequently Asked Questions For Users to View Radiological Images in MD3

GP and Specialist MD3 users simply refer to radiology practices who have the DDI Health FIT solution, and are then able to receive the report in MD3.

WHAT QUALITY WILL I SEE?

  • Diagnostic quality
  • Advanced image view controls to zoom, pan (roam), Window (contrast), invert view and multiple images.
  • You can maximize the viewing window to full screen.

HOW DO I VIEW THE IMAGE?

  • Open the radiology written report and this automatically launches the images. The images are streamed over the internet - it takes just seconds (dependent on internet connection) to view the image.

WHAT IS 'IMAGE STREAMING'?

  • This is sending a view of the image to MD3, rather than downloading the image to hard disk. As you zoom and roam the image, the extra image detail is 'streamed'.

WHAT DO I NEED TO VIEW THE IMAGES?

  • MD3
  • An internet connection, naturally broadband is faster
  • The same standard PC that runs MD3
  • The referral had to be sent to a radiology practice who has DDI Health's FIT solution
  • It is recommended that your display properties colour be set to "Highest/True Color (32 bit)". This is normally the default setting

IS THERE A COST TO ME?

  • No. You don't pay for film or CD, so why should you pay to receive the images within Medical Director

HOW CAN SPECIALISTS VIEW THE IMAGE IF THEY DON'T USE MD3?

  • You can forward the Radiologist's written report to a specialist. A unique image URL is contained within the report. The Specialist simply uses this URL in Internet Explorer browser v5.5+ to view the image over a secure web site.

WON'T IT BE TOO SLOW TO VIEW CT STUDIES OR SEVERAL LARGE CHEST X-RAYS?

  • No, FIT easily streams compressed image views. You only need the detail to view the image on screen for the resolution you are viewing it at. As you zoom in, more pixels of image data in compressed format are streamed
  • Typically the radiology provider will send only Key images, though the full study can also be sent as the FIT solution doesn't need to 'receive' all the files - just a thumbnail view. When you 'open' an individual image by clicking on it or by 'looping through' the series/study using the arrow buttons on your keyboard, that image is streamed.

WON'T VIEWING ALL THESE IMAGES MEAN I HAVE TO UPGRADE MY BROADBAND PLAN'S DOWNLOAD LIMIT?

  • Typically not. As described above, you are not downloading the files you are just receiving a view of highly compressed medical images. The data packets sent over the internet are very small. To open and view a Chest X-Ray is only about 200 kilobytes.

COULD THE PATIENT VIEW THE IMAGE?

  • Naturally you are able to show the patient the images at time of consultation.
  • Naturally, the Radiologist could provide the patient with a film or CD.

HOW IS SECURITY GUARANTEED?

  • The only people who can gain access to the images are those who have received the Radiologist's report, and they have to be known to the Radiology group in order to be able to view the images.
  • The written report is typically delivered to you in electronic format over a secure messaging service - e.g. SSL certified and encrypted.
  • The image is only able to be seen within MD3 where it has been launched from the unique identifier contained within the report. Your Radiology provider will have established a 'secure' website, such that only via your certificate or other secure identifier will you be able to see the images.
  • Those you forward the report to, such as Specialists, can only access the image through a secure website with a username and password - which has to be provided by the radiology practice.
  • The level of security is extremely high, and is much more secure than a film or CD.

DO I NEED TO STORE THE IMAGES?

  • No, you don't download files, the images just open whenever you open the report.

HOW DO I ESTABLISH THIS ABILITY WITH MY RADIOLOGY PROVIDERS?

  • If your Radiology provider has the FIT web server from DDI Health and you are using MD3, then all you need to do is contact them and request that you receive radiology images in this way.

IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT:



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