May 27, 2009 - Orthopedic Specialists, P.C. of St. Louis, Miss., a multi-specialty orthopedic practice, switched from analog film to digital with Viztek’s Opal-ORTHO PACS and U-ARM DR solutions.
Viztek’s Opal-ORTHO PACS was installed complete with orthopedic templating and a full set of tools designed specifically for the orthopedic market. Also installed was Viztek’s U-Arm DR, delivering superior image quality within seconds of exposure.
The PACS and DR package has transformed Orthopedic Specialists’ workflow. Previously, after image acquisition, films were physically moved from the x-ray suite to a processing room, where they were developed with chemicals. The physician often brought several images to the exam room to discuss with the patient. After the consultation, the films would have to be put into jackets and patient folders and finally stored in the constantly expanding file room. Frequently films are requested by consulting or referring physicians. In these cases, films were located in the storage room, copied and sent via mail or courier to the outside office.
Today, X-rays are transferred digitally from the Viztek DR system to its workstation. The images are automatically sent from the DR workstation to the Opal-ORTHO PACS, where all the patient files are stored. From there, the images can be sent to the referring physician via the Web or burned to a CD. The physicians can easily, securely, and efficiently access patient information from any Web-enabled PC.
The time and financial resources required to process, locate, and pull patient x-rays have been decreased considerably, relative to the previous analog process. Bruce Ashby, Viztek’s General Manager of DR says, “Orthopedic Specialists is a perfect example of a successful transition to digital radiology. With both the DR and PACS, they have saved their practice countless hours of work processing and physically moving films around their facility. The physicians and PA now all have easy and secure access to quality images, regardless of their location.”
For more information: www.viztek.net
March 10, 2026 
