URL-Based EMR Integration Developed for PACS

New uniform resource locator- (URL) -based picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) software has been designed that will support capable and cost-effective integration of images and related data with a full range of popular electronic medical record (EMR) applications, making the process more streamlined and cost-effective than the conventional custom coding.

The new feature will enable access to PACS information directly through EMR worklists. Once users open a patient file, a single click will automatically launch the Viztek viewer and display the desired exam. According to the manufacturers of the system, Viztek, Inc. (Jacksonville, FL,USA), the new feature is particularly beneficial for the company's specialty clinic customers, which will be increasingly focused on EMR functionality under the new government administration. Specifically, it also is an important functionality for digital orthopedic sites, which often rely on an EMR to integrate with their PACS to provide comprehensive patient imaging information.

"Many specialty clinics are facing increasing budget constraints and are bracing for new regulations mandating comprehensive digital patient record keeping,” commented Steve Deaton, VP of sales for Viztek. "They are becoming more and more cost conscious and have greater need for efficient operations. Given that, Viztek's tight, cost-effective integration with EMR will be of significant value to these and other facilities going forward.”

Opal-RAD's thin-client architecture requires only an Internet connection and browser to turn any standard PC into a diagnostic workstation, resulting in significant cost savings over proprietary PACS hardware. Open and standards-based, Opal-RAD integrates images, reports, and data from other hospital information technology (IT) systems through Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), Health Level 7 (HL7), and related interfaces, in addition to easily sharing imaging data with EMRs.

Whether for a freestanding practice or hospitals of any size, these software systems meet a comprehensive range of needs and will support medical practices as they evolve in the future.

Viztek is a provider of complete digital software and hardware imaging solutions, backed by comprehensive training and support. The company's Opal-RAD PACS and radiology information system (RIS) suite provides sophisticated connectivity and functionality at a cost-effective price. Web-based architecture, with ultrafast image streaming, ensures timely, efficient communications throughout the enterprise and beyond.

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