The healthcare industry’s commitment to patient engagement has been one of the catalysts for a renewed focus on health information accessibility. Accessibility and interoperability are often discussed in terms of electronic medical records, but what about medical images, specifically? Not long ago, in the days of film, exchanging medical images across facilities was very cumbersome (if not impossible) and sharing them with patients simply did not happen. But even now that it has become commonplace for imaging studies to be burned onto discs, there are still accessibility challenges that plague the process.
Image Sharing with CDs
Discs are currently the most commonly used physical media for sharing medical images. A proprietary viewer is a software that can read and display images in their standard DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format. For consistency across imaging platforms, as well as security of patient data, medical images cannot be accessed in this format without the use of the appropriate viewing software. Herein lies one of the fundamental issues with this method of image sharing. If a CD only holds image files, it’s not guaranteed that they can be viewed from any computer because the computer might lack the necessary software to view them. If a CD holds both the image files and a proprietary viewer that needs to be installed, the viewing software must be compatible with the computer or operating system on which it’s being installed and the user must have the appropriate permissions to complete that installation.
Image Sharing with Patient Portals
A patient portal is a platform that enables both medical professionals and patients to engage with medical information and allows for sensitive data, such as medical images or lab results, to be stored in a secure, yet accessible environment. Patient portals as a component of image sharing software provide much easier, quicker access to images and reports than burning studies onto a disc. The viewer becomes a non-issue because it’s built in to the image sharing software that’s accessed through the patient portal. There are numerous advantages to using patient portals as an alternative to CDs for image sharing.
Better accessibility
One of the main benefits is better (easier, faster, and generally hassle-free) access to important medical data. While they may be a step up from paper or film, discs are still susceptible to loss, damage, or even theft. A misplaced CD is useless for transferring images from one facility to another and also presents a privacy risk due to the lack of password protection or encryption. Attempting to view an imaging study from a CD only to realize there are viewer compatibility or workstation permission issues only leads to frustration for both the physician and the patient. And finally, even if the images can be viewed at the time the patient is being seen, it’s still not the ideal scenario where the physician can review images ahead of time, compare them to prior studies to look for changes over time, and come to the meeting with the patient as prepared as possible.
Accessibility of medical images through image sharing software opens up a better avenue of collaborative diagnosis, too. Instantaneous sharing of studies for second opinions speeds up the process for diagnosis and cuts down on redundant imaging procedures. A process that allows for virtual, real-time collaboration with experts – without geographical limitations – leads to better patient care and improved outcomes.
Increased patient engagement
While better access is clearly beneficial for medical professionals, there’s a real upside for patients as well. People want to be as informed as possible about their health and about the care they receive. Many patients feel that simply having access to their data enables them to make better decisions about managing their health concerns and treatments. Patient portals also allow patients to receive results much faster than ever before, so waiting for long periods of time to potentially hear bad news is no longer necessary.
When patients have access to their medical images in a format they prefer and can use, they are more satisfied with their experience. As desktop computers are replaced by laptops and smaller mobile-enabled devices, it’s possible that a patient may not even have access to a disc drive to view their images if they’ve been burned onto a CD.
Improved tracking and security
Medical images are part of a patient’s confidential health information, no different than their conditions, treatments, prescriptions, etc. When they are uploaded to a CD, they are no more secure than images on film or a paper medical record. What if the CD is misplaced or stolen and ends up in the wrong hands? There’s absolutely no way of knowing who has seen the images. By accessing images from a patient portal instead, there is a HIPAA-compliant audit log that tracks who viewed the images and when. This level of visibility is simply impossible with a physical storage solution like a disc. Likewise, there is nothing that prevents just anyone from viewing the images; CDs do not encrypt the imaging data so any person who is able to open the files can view them. Because patient portals require unique logins and passwords, only the people authorized to view the images will have access.
Lower costs
The final and perhaps most attractive advantage of patient portals over CDs is the potential for cost savings. Imagine a world where DICOM burners and CDs aren’t necessary. Sharing medical images without those two major expenses would dramatically reduce costs, especially for healthcare organizations that produce a high volume of studies each year. If that scenario is a little too extreme, think of the money that could be saved just by reducing the number of CDs burned and then mailed to external facilities.
Many healthcare organizations can also cut down on their costs from unnecessary or redundant imaging procedures. When images are available when and where they are needed, tests don’t need to be repeated in order to assess a patient’s condition.
With the significant upside to utilizing patient portals for sharing medical images, there’s a lot to be gained from making a switch. If your organization is looking for a more streamlined workflow for image exchange and a way to empower your patients with access to their own data, consider a solution like Vaultara.
