Clinic Group integrates Imaging into a uniform DICOM-Platform

VISUS creates with its Viewer clinic-wide central access to all data 

 

Bochum, 30 March 2011 - Modern image management has to acquire, communicate and archive image data as well as videos, no matter whether in the DICOM or Non-DICOM format. Besides radiology this includes also the endoscopy, sonography, cardiology, and wound documentation. Here data originate in the PDF or JPEG format. 

 

This comprehensive management platform for all picture-related processes in the hospital is made available with JiveX by VISUS. Basis is the consistent use of the DICOM standard and the IHE profiles. The archiving according to X-ray order for the radiological image data and a logical separation of the picture areas, software-supported by JiveX, are as guaranteed as the licensing according to the Medical Device Directive for the overall system. 

 

The Catholic Hospital Union (KHV) Weser-Egge, a group of four acute care hospitals in Höxter, Bad Driburg, Steinheim and Brakel, has gradually built up this image management platform during a 18-month routine phase. "We wanted to create a central image management which really integrates all image-giving systems. Besides, a central infrastructure and uniform communication ways should be set up. We hope to gain the grouping of investments and an easy integrating of new systems from this DICOM platform", says the head of IT Thorsten Krian. 

 

Till this day, beside the radiological departments of four houses, are integrated an external X-ray practice, a medical care center and a nuclear-medical practice. Also the cardiology and the internal medicine communicate and archive their images in the central picture management system. Besides, the endoscopes are integrated via Frame-Grabber (Analog Modality Gateway). The radiation therapy is integrated by the module JiveX DICOM-RT. In addition, the image management platform offers a clinic-wide DICOM-Worklist, also for the functional departments beyond the radiology. 

 

"By the new strategy many advantages arise for us", is Krian contented. "We can integrate all modalities, even if they are not DICOM-capable. All data, no matter from what system, is stored in one place. We work on a data bank and have to administer only one system." And regardless from which sources the image originally comes, VISUS offers a uniform system-covering Viewer. Thus the image management platform becomes the central access point to all image data in the clinical workflow. It is integrated via a call interface into the KIS and creates a quick access to all information in an operating surface for the users. "Now after the good experiences so far we go on with the integration of the image-giving departments and connect the sonography as well as the ECG", Krian looks into the close future.