ETIAM Debuts SMN v. 3.20 at RSNA 2011
Ultra-Fast Image Sharing, Unprecedented Management Put All Images, Whatever the Source, to Meaningful Use
ETIAM, Cambridge, MA – November 2, 2011 – Ushering in a new standard for effective cross-enterprise medical image sharing, ETIAM debuts at RSNA 2011 Secure Medical Networking (SMN) version 3.20, which supports unified film, CD and electronic data transfer and now fully integrates imaging information from beyond the enterprise into existing hospital workflow. The enhanced ETIAM solution provides a comprehensive solution not only to transfer imaging data but also to bring order to the thousands of external images that enter many facilities every day. The result is more effective, efficient, secure and cost-effective care as well as the ability to finally put all images, whatever the original source and format, to meaningful use.
New to the SMN v. 3.20 is support for bi-directional consultation, which enables practitioners in multiple locations to share over the Internet both imaging data and a broad range of related patient files and to communicate about this information in real time. These files include documents—such as time-sensitive Glascow Coma Scale reports for trauma transfers—as well as non-DICOM still and moving images. Because information transfer bypasses the cloud, diagnostic-quality images and other files are transmitted with unprecedented speed, and the most complex images are ready for use within minutes of transmission. In SMN v. 3.20, image transfer protocols are specifically optimized according to the available bandwidth.
Unlike competing systems, new SMN v. 3.20 not only accepts and integrates incoming studies whether in CD, film or electronic format. It also streamlines communication of images within the enterprise. Using customizable complex rule engines to route patient information to the point-of-care as needed, SMN ensures, for example, that vital emergency room patient images and Glascow data immediately reach the correct specialist, and oncology second opinions are entered on the appropriate radiologist’s worklists for review at a later date. This contrasts with most image sharing systems that typically handle only electronic data on a point-to-point basis with no support for image management once files enter a facility.
SMN v. 3.20 now includes four modes for image transfers to meet a facility’s specific collaboration needs:
- Traditional CD and film capture
- Web upload on the fly from any location
- SMN Agent gateway, which provides a secure link between two institutions for extremely efficient and secure communication
- SMN Community Nexus, using a similar secured link between two institutions, with important additional features such as customizable image routing
Using many of these transfer modes and SMN’s new bi-directional collaboration support, physicians in multiple locations involved in a case can collaborate in real time as if they were in the same room.
New SMN v. 3.20 builds on ETIAM’s longstanding successful approach to enterprise-wide, real-world image sharing. “If an electronic image exchange system is to add value, it must be a comprehensive solution that addresses not only electronic but also CD and film images and integrates all incoming images, whatever the format, within the enterprise,” comments Emmanuel Cordonnier, ETIAM CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder, who has decades of experience in the field. “Despite vast technological advances, both CD and film remain major components of current image sharing workflow. Today, most imaging sites are still overwhelmed with thousands of hardcopy images and CDs as well as electronic studies all entering the facility without organization or planning.”
With SMN, supported by complementary ETIAM applications, whether transferred as an electronic file, CD or film that is later scanned, external images are immediately reconciled with institution-specific patient identifiers and routed to appropriate specialists, directed to film libraries or sent to temporary enterprise storage. While supporting this broad-based enterprise web access and distribution, the system also creates and manages worklists of external images earmarked for permanent storage to PACS. SMN v. 3.20 offers capabilities for efficiently managing import of relevant studies into PACS, thus saving a lot of human time and resources in the Film Library.
Unlike competing image sharing solutions, ETIAM’s comprehensive system provides all users with a universal DICOM viewer. It also enables facilities to accept CDs from a full range of vendors, including non-DICOM studies from AMICAS and iSite solutions. ETIAM’s SMN relies on the Internet to directly transfer images. For the highest level of security and speed of image transfer, no images are permanently stored on the cloud. Supporting this philosophy, new web-based bi-directional consultations are conducted in a secure and traceable manner.
“Finally, with our latest version of SMN, imaging sites enjoy unprecedented image sharing speed, security and a revolutionary system to manage the ever-growing number of images that arrive from beyond the enterprise,” comments Cordonnier. “With CDs and films piled in empty cabinets and electronic studies arriving helter-skelter, crucial information can be easily lost. With separate import systems for each image format, information is disorganized and difficult to manage. Only with SMN's ability to provide broad integrated access to these external images within the enterprise can a site truly put all its imaging resources to meaningful use.”
ETIAM’s SMN has a proven track record of success with more than three years of use at more than 120 hospitals worldwide, while other vendors are just entering the market with new products and new technologies.
About ETIAM
ETIAM is a global leader in providing connectivity and interoperability solutions to the healthcare and medical imaging industry. ETIAM’s product portfolio allows for the exchange of medical images and relevant clinical data between institutions and healthcare applications. The company’s expertise in international healthcare standards including DICOM, HL7 and IHE profiles, uniquely positions it to provide solutions for hospitals and healthcare vendors worldwide.
Media Contact:
ETIAM Corp.
185 Alewife Brook Parkway
Suite 410
Cambridge, MA 02138 – USA
Toll Free: (877) 384-2662 (USA & Canada)
Phone/Fax: (617) 395-5809
www.etiam.com
info@etiam.com
Jeanne-Marie Phillips
Phone: (203) 977-3333
E-mail: jphillips@healthflashmarketing.com
Philips DICOM Viewer R2.6L1
MicroDicom - free DICOM viewer for Windows
PACS System Administrator's Resource Guide