How can the right medical technologies help rural healthcare survive and thrive? Informaticist and researcher Catherine Craven explains how a cost-effective, high-quality telehealth solution can benefit rural health organizations.
Learn how TeleRay can help rural healthcare providers manage their medical imaging more efficiently. Book a demo today at teleray.com.
How do CDs delay patient care and result in poor healthcare outcomes? Kevin Thompson, president of Thompson Medical Consulting, explains why medical images should never be exchanged via CDs.
Learn how TeleRay can help healthcare providers manage their medical imaging more efficiently. Book a demo today at teleray.com.
In rural areas, accessing specialized medical care has long been a daunting challenge for patients in need. Long distances to facilities, funding challenges, access to specialists, and high costs in general can all present barriers to diagnosis and treatment. However, as digitization sweeps across the healthcare landscape, technology has emerged as an equalizer. Remote ultrasound in particular is a game-changer that’s revolutionizing the way specialist care is delivered to rural populations.
To understand the potential of remote ultrasound, you must consider the social determinants of health (SDOH) rural populations face as they seek specialist care. Some of the biggest hurdles include:
These challenges can make it difficult for rural patients to get the proactive care they need — particularly from specialists who play a critical role in assessing treatment for chronic or unique conditions.
Over the past decade, ultrasound has moved to the forefront of medicine across numerous specialties. Its diagnostic abilities allow internal medicine specialists to diagnose, assess, treat, and monitor conditions. Ultrasound has also benefitted from innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) and point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS), which have made it more accessible and reliable.
Perhaps the most important ultrasound innovation recently is remote imaging. This segment of telemedicine enables any qualified diagnostician to scan patients and transmit images to specialists in real time — wherever they are. Through platforms like TeleRay Remote, clinicians can even control equipment remotely to manipulate scan images or consult with patients using their scans as a guide.
Remote ultrasound is also incredibly secure. Because patient data is encrypted and transmitted directly from end to end, patients and providers get peace of mind in not only the level of care being provided but also the integrity of the experience.
Providers in rural communities often face challenges driven by their location. Their caseloads are higher, and they frequently see patients for longer periods of their lives, treating conditions that may be exacerbated by other healthcare barriers. This means they’re often seeking innovations that help provide optimal care within these constraints.
Remote ultrasound helps rural clinicians get the support they need. Thanks to remote ultrasound, they’re no longer constrained by the resources immediately available to them. On top of these benefits, remote ultrasound also:
Above all, remote ultrasound makes healthcare more equitable for rural patients who don’t have the same access due to SDOH factors. From a small local clinic to a mobile screening program to a rural hospital, remote ultrasound brings specialist expertise into the healthcare journey — wherever it occurs.
Numerous barriers make it difficult for rural patients to get the care they need. Remote ultrasound helps specialists provide a higher caliber of care to rural populations so they can benefit from improved diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Thanks to technology like TeleRay Remote, intervention is no longer dependent on proximity to providers. Now, specialists can do more with less — regardless of location — and facilitate healthier patients, communities, and populations.
Learn how TeleRay can help rural healthcare providers manage medical imaging more efficiently. Book a demo today at teleray.com.
Why are unnecessary rescans healthcare’s dirty little secret? TeleRay Chief Operating Officer Steve Austin explains the problems associated with rescanning and the ways TeleRay can help.
Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in modern medicine. But lurking behind every CAT scan, MRI, and X-ray lies a hidden scourge: unnecessary rescans. These repeated imaging procedures — caused by everything from technical glitches and inconclusive results due to sub-optimal patient positioning or operator technique or experience — not only drain valuable resources but also place undue stress on patients.
Thankfully, there are ways to address excessive rescans. It’s time to highlight this overlooked issue and work toward a more efficient, patient-centered approach to diagnostic imaging.
A rescan typically refers to the repetition of an imaging procedure — such as a CT MRI, ultrasound or X-ray — due to circumstances impeding the accurate interpretation of the initial scan. A rescan may be required for several reasons, including:
These factors collectively contribute to an increasing prevalence of unnecessary rescanning each year. With each rescan comes significant costs and inconveniences for healthcare systems and patients alike.
Several studies and statistics reveal the magnitude of the problem of unnecessary rescanning. For instance, one peer-reviewed publication cites errors in “an estimated day-to-day rate of 3–5% of studies reported, and much higher rates reported in many targeted studies.”
Effectively, of the 1 billion radiologic examinations performed annually, 30-50 million are rescans. This figure — along with others probing the causes behind high rescan rates — underscores the substantial wastes associated with avoidable rescans.
Unnecessary rescans in diagnostic imaging have major implications, in terms of both the financial costs and waste of valuable healthcare resources. Each rescan incurs additional expenses, including equipment usage, staff time, and radiologist interpretations. These costs can add up quickly, burdening healthcare systems and diverting funds that could be allocated to other critical areas of patient care.
The cost also goes beyond the financial expense. One of the top risks associated with unnecessary rescans is the repeated exposure to radiation. Many imaging procedures, such as CT scans, involve the use of ionizing radiation. While the radiation dose from a single scan is typically considered safe, the cumulative effect of multiple scans can elevate the risk of potential radiation-related complications and adverse effects. Indeed, studies indicate that up to 2% of all cancers in the US are linked to CT scans.
Further, as the population ages, the demands on imaging equipment has driven up stress on the infrastructure and clinicians / technicians alike. Accordingly, burn-out rates among professionals is currently at alarming levels, leading to a severe shortage of radiologists. With the over 60 population set to grow nearly 50% by 2050 the current growth in radiology internship of 2.5% will likely deepen the problem.
Patient inconvenience must also be considered. Unnecessary rescans can impose increased stress, anxiety, and frustration due to prolonged waiting times for rescheduled scans, additional visits to the imaging center, and potential delays in receiving a diagnosis. Moreover, excessive rescans can lead to longer wait times for patients who require initial scans delaying their diagnoses and treatment plans.
While the medical field has largely accepted rescans as “part of the process,” modern innovations have unlocked opportunities to mitigate the need for rescans by resolving pain points before, during, and after the initial scans. Here’s how:
Unnecessary rescans pose a considerable burden on healthcare systems, patients, and resources. By embracing advancements in imaging technology, implementing standardized protocols, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, providers can take steps toward reducing rescans. While every scan won’t be viable, in the modern era, there’s more opportunity than ever to get it right the first time.
Learn how TeleRay can help healthcare providers manage medical imaging more efficiently. Book a demo today at teleray.com.
The healthcare industry is undergoing rapid innovation thanks to numerous technological advancements. In radiology, electronic image exchange systems (EIES) have emerged as a game-changer, offering seamless access to medical images and reports, facilitating collaboration among healthcare professionals, and enhancing patient care. But as the benefits of EIES become increasingly evident, it’s crucial to consider the costs associated with their implementation.
From privacy concerns and interoperability challenges to the financial burden of infrastructure and training, there are multifaceted challenges facing EIES. It raises the question: How can you ensure the benefits outweigh the costs?
To understand why electronic image exchange systems have become a centralized, staple technology in diagnostic imaging, you must consider the benefits they provide:
Like most technologies, electronic image exchange systems benefit providers, patients, and healthcare organizations only when they are implemented and used effectively. This is where obstacles begin to emerge for many organizations, including common barriers such as:
The decision to deploy EIES requires careful evaluation of the potential benefits weighed against the real costs and barriers each organization faces in any situation, but most particularly in smaller practices where financial and workflow impacts usually are disproportionately greater than in larger organizations. A cost-benefit analysis should be undertaken to determine if the advantages outweigh the potential drawbacks
If there’s a clear path toward ROI, the focus narrows to the specific risks and challenges faced by the organization. This might include prioritizing data security, adopting industry standards for interoperability, and developing comprehensive training programs to facilitate adoption.
Electronic image exchange systems have undeniably made significant strides in improving healthcare delivery. They streamline access to vital medical images, promote collaboration among healthcare professionals, and enhance patient care. But it’s imperative to acknowledge and address the costs and challenges accompanying these benefits.
As electronic image exchange systems continue to expand, striking a balance will be key. Focusing on purposeful implementation and adhering to best practices are the best ways to mitigate the cost of innovation and ensure maximum ROI — both in patient care and on the bottom line.
Learn how TeleRay is designed from the ground up to not only meet and exceed these requirements as the fastest, most secure EIES available with no/low implementation footprint but also to do so remarkably economically to drive up ROI. Book a demo today at teleray.com/book-a-demo.
Precision medicine is a groundbreaking approach to delivering personalized healthcare to patients. It tailors medical treatments to an individual’s unique genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment while being guided by data-driven technologies. This method has already yielded impressive results, leading to personalized care that’s more effective and less invasive.
While there’s much ado about the drug-related aspects of precision medicine, one crucial component often goes overlooked — the role of medical imaging. Imaging enables physicians to diagnose diseases, monitor treatment progress, and predict outcomes. These vital capabilities mean medical imaging is integral in putting patients on a personalized path to wellness.
No two people are alike. Individual variability, genetics, and environmental factors affect how we react to symptoms and respond to treatment. When prompt medical care is critical for effective treatment and recovery, rapid diagnosis is vital. Precision medicine aims to transform the practice of medicine with early diagnosis and personalized treatments tailored to the individual characteristics of each patient, offering a turnkey approach.
Imaging plays a pivotal role in precision medicine by providing individualized screening and early diagnosis to guide treatment and evaluate the response to therapy. Medical imaging can customize care at a foundational level for everyone by identifying genomic drivers and delivering the necessary information to offer the right treatment at the right time.
There’s a growing, critical need to ensure every aspect of care is informed by patient data. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people 80 years and older will triple between 2020 and 2050. But elderly patients aren’t the only population in need of specialized care. In the United States, six in 10 adults experience chronic disease. Image-guided tests and treatments provide physicians with fact-based data to make immediate diagnoses and offer precise treatment for improved outcomes.
Medical imaging lays the groundwork for an insightful approach to precision medicine. It can assist in diagnosing disease with enhanced accuracy, helping medical professionals better identify prognoses and inform treatments for disorders. Medical imaging offers many benefits to guide care delivery, including:
Imaging can be utilized to improve all aspects of care while supporting more targeted, predictive, personalized, and effective care approaches. Recent advancements in imaging technology increase the speed of diagnostics and lead to rapid treatment for the best outcomes possible. As modern equipment and technology converge, data can be leveraged to further advance immediate and personalized treatment.
Consider how these advancements combining big data and technology with medical imaging will provide more innovative personalized treatment for patients:
The future of precision medicine looks incredibly promising due in part to the role of medical imaging and its ability to lay the groundwork for personalized treatments. Medical imaging techniques will continue to become more sophisticated, cost-effective, and accessible, resulting in better outcomes. As physicians find new ways to combine medical imaging technology with powerful software and personalized drugs, the future of care delivery stands to become more effective, efficient, and equitable for all.
Learn more about a faster, more secure way to share medical images at TeleRay.com.
Why does diagnostic imaging need artificial intelligence and machine learning? TeleRay Chief Operating Officer Steve Austin explains why these tools are ideal for radiology.
Medical imaging is an essential aspect of healthcare — one increasingly part of a decentralized care-delivery model. But while systems are emerging to improve the transmissibility of critical patient data, the process of sharing medical images can be a complex one to navigate and a significant pain point for healthcare organizations.
From technological limitations to regulatory compliance, medical image sharing comes with a host of challenges possibly leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment, decreased patient satisfaction, and increased costs. Let’s explore 10 of the top barriers (and solutions to address them).
Medical data is mobile, following patients from provider to provider across their healthcare journeys. As such, it must be easily transmissible. While this may sound simple, there are obstacles to sending, accessing, storing, and transferring medical data. Imaging data is especially difficult to mobilize.
Establishing mobile, transferable medical data protocols is crucial. The barriers to sending patient information affect a patient’s experience and their provider’s ability to deliver care. Issues like downtime, integrations, support, and training can make it difficult for providers to share patient information between practices. Just because you can send it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe, secure, or usable in another facility.
Making medical images uniformly accessible when and where they’re most needed starts by understanding the obstacles preventing this mobility. Here are 10 of the top pain points in medical image sharing today:
Many of the problems noted above are due to tech gaps and learning barriers. While this is understandable, it also places patients and providers at a significant disadvantage. Hospitals and other medical practices must adopt new technology, understand it, and create new processes around it.
The technologies enabling medical image sharing are still evolving, and so are providers’ responses to adopting and using these systems. To keep pace with the speed of innovation and ensure it translates to speed and satisfaction of care, providers must focus on the pain points hampering medical image sharing. Laying the groundwork for better transmissibility will lead to a superior standard of patient care in the years to come — no matter how the tech continues to evolve.
Learn more about how TeleRay improves medical image transmissibility at teleray.com.
What are the benefits of livestreaming mammography and ultrasound exams? TeleRay CEO Tim Kelley highlights the advantages for patients and healthcare professionals.
