January 9, 2015 — Radiologists can transmit their reports, which can also contain access to images, to their referring physicians’ electronic health records (EHR) systems securely, efficiently, and cost effectively using carefully selected technology, according to a presentation by Advanced Data Systems Corp. (ADS) at the 2014 Radiology Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago, Nov. 30-Dec. 5. The transmitting of radiology reports in this manner also helps referring physicians satisfy one of their major requirements for Stage 2 Meaningful Use (MU) incentives. Referral relationships are solidified when reports can be transmitted to referring physicians’ EHRs, while also helping the referring physician satisfy MU.
Steve Hamburg, ADS director of radiology information system (RIS) sales, explored this topic as part of a program presented by Kenneth Dreyer, DO, Ph.D., and RadiologyMU. Hamburg also participated in the panel discussion and question and answer session following the presentation.
“A major theme and topic of conversation throughout this year’s RSNA conference was how to effectively transmit radiology reports and data across enterprises and disparate technology platforms to satisfy referring physicians. The cost-effective answer is having a highly interoperable RIS that is enabled to handle this type of transfer,” Hamburg said.
Hamburg pointed out that ideally, transmitted reports — as well as the ability to capture images directly from those reports — need not involve multiple costly interfaces. “Radiologists should be able to provide EHR-agnostic data formats acceptable to any physician’s EHR”, he stated. He emphasized these important benefits for radiology practices in today’s competitive environment.
“Keeping referrers referring is perhaps the key element needed by any radiology practice,” Hamburg noted, adding, “A three-way win scenario for all of the players exists when the radiology practice can securely deliver its reports electronically. The radiology practice, its referring physicians, and their mutual patients all benefit through this type of interoperability.”
Hamburg concluded by saying, “Opinion and conversation at RSNA indicated that radiology practices unable to provide this type of data delivery capability will no doubt see a dwindling of incoming referrals as patients are redirected by referring physicians to radiology and imaging centers that can provide this efficiency and convenience. For that reason, implementing a reports delivery capability should be a ‘must’ on any radiology administrator’s to-do list for 2015.”
For more information: www.adsc.com
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