Jan 6, 2015

RSNA 2014: Much Talk about Talk, Software Soars Skyward

We’ve heard it all before, but once again much of the big buzz at RSNA 2014 was about talking—about IT systems talking to one another with interoperability of data.   At the same time, radiology vendors  had their heads in the clouds and their feet were firmly planted on the ground, as virtual IT offerings expanded in new and exciting directions during the events in the past, interoperability was also on everyone’s minds with the ever-growing emphasis on Meaningful Use (MU).

IDS showcased technology that addressed both trends—its unique  IT interoperability cloud service, which enables HL7 data to flow from a medical IT system to the AbbaDox cloud, where it is transformed into a format compatible with an endpoint system, typically in another customer location. It is then forwarded on as compatible data.  The unique AbbaDox Interoperability cloud enables disparate systems to communicate as a customized, managed, turnkey SaaS solution, with all the inherent benefits of cloud technology.

While other vendors discussed custom interfaces and costly onsite HL7 feeds, attendees flocked to the IDS booth to discuss this unique interoperability offering.

Other IDS interoperability technology also included the new AbbaDox Exchange cross-enterprise image and data exchange platform, which automates radiology report distribution in a format compatible with any referrer’s EHR.

When it comes to the cloud, show attendees saw offerings introduced in a range of new categories with many additional vendors looking at the cloud for the first time.  This is good news for radiologists who want to boost their functionality and efficiency with new IT implementations, while minimizing maintenance and cost—all recognized benefits of software in the sky.

Cloud storage continues to be a major trend, while the lowering of hardware costs are making cloud services prices more affordable across the board.  Also big at RSNA were cloud-based image viewers with anywhere, anytime functionality, often paired up with cloud-based vendor neutral archives (VNAs). 

At RSNA, IDS showcased a truly unique cloud offering—Voice2Dox speech recognition and reporting platform with cloud-based clinical speech recognition by Nuance. Thanks to its unique cloud architecture, this next-generation solution enables immediate access on any PC to user profiles, including universal PACS worklists, custom report templates, individual speech profiles and more.

After logging into Voice2Dox, radiologists dictate reports securely to the cloud.  Users talk at their own pace with voice controlled features and immediate report visualization and feedback.  Thanks to cloud architecture, wherever located, radiologists experience the same comprehensive reporting environment and workflow as in their primary Voice2Dox work site. This includes configurable master routines that ensure consistent reporting standards across radiologists, automatic matching of recommended templates to exams, easy embedding of key images and personalized medical vocabularies.

Voice2Dox reports also can be reviewed, edited and archived from any location.  They can be distributed directly to referring physicians by fax, standard email and physician portal as well as through MU-compliant Direct email as an EHR-ready file.

Also bringing new functionality to the cloud was IDS’ introduction of its cloud-based CRM v. 2.0, which features an innovative interactive mapping function showing all potential and existing referrers located in close proximity to a provider. The feature helps pinpoint strong referral prospects, while highlighting the locations of practices already recommending patients.


Map display can be filtered by medical specialty, current relationship status and user defined fields. It also can identify clusters of underserved regions to target appropriate physicians for new relationships and monitor trends and referral patterns. The new CRM also features advanced new architecture, enhanced database design, intuitive graphical interface, rich analytics and a robust marketing toolset.

When it comes to interoperability, do you feel many vendors are simply talking the talk without substance behind it?  What can we anticipate as the latest innovations as cloud architecture expand into the future?  The sky’s the limit.  What do you envision?