Cristine Kao, Global Marketing Manager, Healthcare IT, Carestream

Breast cancer survivors have joined together in an activity that focuses on support, wellness and competition as way to recover from breast cancer. The diagnosis of breast cancer has brought survivors from around the world together in the unique paddling sport of dragon boating.

Paddling in colorful dragon boats offers an active, health-giving, life-affirming option for breast cancer survivors. Dragon boat racing is a relatively new but rapidly growing international activity. A dragon boat is a long, colorful wooden or fiberglass boat adorned with a dragon head at the front and tail at the back — with room for about 20 paddlers and a drummer. Teams of cancer survivors and their supporters paddle in harmony to the beat of a drum. The sport of dragon boating provides the benefit of vigorous exercise and may help prevent or relieve the symptoms of lymphedema — a common side effect from the effects of breast surgery or radiation.

I recently had the opportunity to coach a group of breast cancer survivors from the Dragonheart Vermont club that plans to send a crew to the U.S. National Championship in September. These contestants will compete to win a chance to represent the U.S. at the 2014 Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy. The championship has a division for breast cancer survivors and it’s estimated that there are about hundreds of dragon boat breast cancer teams around the world.

Cancer research and treatment has made dramatic strides in the last 10 years. Thousands of activities publicize the ability for survivors to recover from this previously debilitating disease and live normal, active lives. However more research is needed, which is why we all need to support additional research to develop new detection methods and treatments for all forms of cancer.

Please visit the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission if you would like to get involved with a local team. The rewards are many!

We would like to hear comments from readers who have participated in these types of events. When did you first hear about dragon boat races and what benefits have you received from being on a dragon boat team?

Dragon Boat Team

Helen Titus, Marketing Director, X-ray Solutions, Carestream

I have to take exception to a key statement in “The World Market for General Radiography and Fluoroscopy X-ray Equipment – 2013″ report issued by IMS Research, a subsidiary of market research firm IHS. According to this report, growth in the market for retrofit X-ray kits that convert film or CR-based X-ray systems to digital radiography will peak in 2014. After that, the report states that economic stability will allow more facilities, especially in Europe, to start purchasing new equipment and retrofit sales will slow.

Retrofit systems allow healthcare facilities to upgrade existing analog X-ray rooms or mobile X-ray systems with DR detectors. This report suggests the adoption rate for retrofit kits is being driven primarily by a slow economy (and limited budgets) and will fall off when the economy recovers and healthcare facilities opt to purchase new imaging systems instead.

We see retrofits and new DR systems as part of a circle of equipment life. Hospitals and health systems often choose to retrofit newer analog rooms and mobile systems and purchase new DR systems as their systems age. We also must consider other imaging services providers—imaging centers, physicians’ offices, orthopedic clinics, smaller hospitals and others—that will implement retrofit kits for their convenience and cost advantages.

Carestream has an added advantage since we further extend the life of our detectors by allowing them to be used in any DRX room or DRX mobile imaging system. As the retrofitted X-ray system needs to be replaced, the DRX detector can be redeployed in a new room or new mobile imaging system, increasing the return on the original investment. If a new mobile X-ray imaging system is purchased, the retrofit DRX detector can then be moved to convert a CR-based portable or room.

Looking forward, we anticipate a synergistic blend of retrofit and new DR systems transforming the huge worldwide base of CR and film-based systems. This transition can lead to faster, more convenient image access and can help physicians enhance patient care.

Is your healthcare facility using retrofit systems? And do you plan to continue to use retrofits as part of your overall transition to DR systems?

Jean-Philippe Masson, Chairman, Forcomed

A French translation of the following post can be found below, after the English version.

Forcomed has retained Carestream’s Vue Cloud solution as the technical architecture for its new digital mammography e-learning programme. Jean-Philippe Masson, Chairman of Forcomed, was happy to answer our questions.

Can you tell us about your training organisation?

Forcomed is an organisation that offers training to radiologists and their colleagues. It was set up in 1994 by the professional body for radiologists in private practice. Since then, Forcomed has trained over 40,000 people in various subjects including mammography, radiation protection, quality, emergency care.

What is the background to your partnership with Carestream?

The partnership began following an invitation to tender for a digital mammography training system on dedicated workstations. It was a pretty big challenge because 4,000 radiologists had to be trained in three years. We rose to the challenge to the great satisfaction of participants, as shown in surveys carried out after each training course.

Can you describe this new e-learning training project for us?

This new project falls within the scope of CPD (continuing professional development) which provides a compulsory legal framework for the annual training of radiologists linked to an analysis of their work. The idea is to offer training that is complementary to training previously undertaken, in the form of reading packages and auto-correction software, allowing this programme to be taken remotely on workstations set up in radiology clinics.

What developments are in store?

The aim is to offer this programme every year according to the needs of radiologists performing mammographies. It is also completely conceivable to offer it to other radiologists outside France who are part of a breast cancer screening programme or who wish to improve their mammography skills.

French translation:

Forcomed a retenu la solution CARESTREAM Vue Cloud comme architecture technique pour les  formations e-learning dédiées à la mammographie numérique. Jean-Philippe Masson, Président de Forcomed, a bien voulu répondre à nos questions:
Pouvez-vous nous décrire votre organisme de formation?

Forcomed est un organisme de formation des médecins radiologues et de leurs collaborateurs, créé par la structure professionnelle de défense des radiologues libéraux en 1994. Depuis sa création, Forcomed a formé plus de 40.000 personnes sur des sujets variés : mammographie, radioprotection, qualité, urgences.

Quel est l’historique du partenariat avec Carestream?

Le partenariat a débuté suite à un appel d’offre pour choisir un système de formation à la mammographie numérique sur consoles dédiées. L’enjeu était conséquent puisque 4000 radiologues devaient être formés en 3 ans. Le pari a été tenu pour la plus grande satisfaction des participants comme en témoignent les enquêtes réalisées après chaque formation.

Pouvez-vous nous décrire ce nouveau projet de formation e-learning?

Ce nouveau projet s’intègre dans le cadre du DPC (développement personnel continue) qui donne un cadre légal obligatoire à une formation annuelle des radiologues associée à une analyse de leur pratique. L’idée est de proposer une formation complémentaire à celle qui a été réalisée précédemment à travers des kits de lecture et un logiciel d’auto correction permettant de réaliser ce programme à distance sur des consoles installées dans les cabinets de radiologie.

Quels sont les développement futurs?

Ce programme a donc pour objectif d’être décliné tous les ans en fonction des besoins des radiologues réalisant la mammographie. Il est tout à fait envisageable aussi de le proposer à d’autres radiologues hors de France inscrits dans un programme de dépistage du cancer du sein ou souhaitant se perfectionner à la mammographie.

A conversation with Carestream’s Julie Weidman, marketing manager for the U.S. and Canada, and Cristine Kao, global marketing manager for the company’s Healthcare Information Solutions (HCIS) division. The two dive into the trend of patient engagement, medical professionals’ opinions on this trend, and whether or not it’s realistic to depend on patients to adapt to the new healthcare technologies being developed.

Don Thompson, US&C Marketing Manager, Carestream

According to InMedica, today, “retrofit wireless detectors are the fastest growing segment of the flat panel detector (FPD) detector market in the Americas, and unit shipments will more than double from 2011 to 2016.”* But back in 2009 the concept was still relatively new, and it took an innovator like Tufts to pioneer their first DRX-1 wireless DR detector to convert a CR room to DR. The technology was quite new—but they could see the potential to upgrade their X-ray capability without a costly reconstruction of their old CR rooms. The Carestream team arrived on a Friday, and on Monday AM Tufts was imaging as usual with the new equipment in place. They expressed their happiness in a video that you can watch here.

But fast forward three years to February 2013—how does Tufts feel today? We sent a film crew to Boston to capture the story. They have expanded their DRX-system at the hospital and are just as happy today as they were when the equipment first arrived on the scene 3+ years ago. Are you ready for a makeover—it might be time!

The video below provides some details about Tufts’ conversion to DRX.

*The World Market for General Radiography and Fluoroscopy X-Ray Equipment – 2012 Edition, InMedica, April 2012.

Jane Grimsley, Marketing Manager for Digital Capture Europe, Carestream

The Coldest Journey has captured much of our attention over the past few months at Carestream. Back in January, we announced that Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his team would be taking along the DRX-Transportable system on the trek across Antarctica in the dead of winter. Four months later and we’re happy to report that the journey continues, however Sir Ranulph had to head home because of a case of frostbite. The team has forged ahead in his absence across the dangerous ice environment, in the name of both adventure and charity.

The Coldest Journey set out to raise $10 million for Seeing is Believing, an organization dedicated to eliminating avoidable blindness and visual impairment. In the same spirit as the Coldest Journey, five Carestream Health UK Limited employees attempt a strenuous, though not quite as dangerous journey of their own. The “Wee Bit Chilly Journey” will take our colleagues on a cycling adventure across the UK from coast to coast. The team will travel from Hull to Liverpool (178 miles) from Friday 7^th to Sunday 9^th June finishing at the Arena and Convention Centre, Albert dock, Liverpool just in time for the UK Radiology Conference, which takes place from Monday 10^th to Wednesday 12^th June.

If you would like to make a donation to support the five cyclists who will attempt this feat, donations to Seeing is Believing can be made through http://www.justgiving.com/Wee-Bit-Chilly-Journey

Pictured from left to right: Back Row – Charlie McCaffrey, Kevin Smith, Mark Stewart;
Front Row Nick Brown, Martin Stewart

Time is flying by in 2013 as we’re already into the fifth month! Please leave your answer in either the comment section below or on our Facebook page. The challenge will run until May 31 or until the first person correctly names the item in the image. Good luck!

Sorry…Carestream employees and their agencies are prohibited from entering.

In the video below, Neil Halin, Chief of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology at Tufts Medical Center, demos the Carestream Cardiology PACS. Dr. Munn explains how the products of PACS/RIS vendors that can handle larger systems have a big advantage. This is because if those vendors can handle larger systems well, then the accumulation of quality data for submission in terms of ACO status will become important and helpful.

For more information, you can read about Carestream Vue PACS and its various features.

Cristine Kao, Global Marketing Manager, Healthcare IT, Carestream

The findings released in a recent Wall Street Journal article about the storage of medical images were not the least bit surprising. According to Frost & Sullivan, the amount of storage volume needed to house medical images has more than tripled since 2005, and is projected to double in the next five years. To address these alarming numbers, healthcare facilities are more often looking to the cloud, and for good reason.

The hospital in the article, Henry Ford Health System, needed to invest $200,000 in hardware and software upgrades to its image archiving system, it opted for cloud services. The biggest financial advantage of this was the removal of the large capital investment and the installation of a more affordable service that housed the images offsite at a reasonable upfront cost and monthly usage fees.

A story like this is becoming all too familiar in today’s healthcare industry. The Wall Street Journal article stated that 15% of healthcare systems in the U.S. are using cloud storage services and that number is only going to increase as image volume does. In addition to the financial advantages that cloud services provide over time, the human capital space needed to invest in managing in-house storage facilities are also alleviated. The days of internal data centers are dissipating, along with the numerous hours invested in maintaining the hardware and software. With cloud services, those responsibilities fall on the service provider.

The article was smart to point out one of the key concerns when it comes to cloud services: security. This concern has easily been the strongest roadblock to adoption, but it can be combated with trust between the healthcare organization and the service provider. While human capital is moved away from the hardware and software upkeep, it is now focused on partnering with the provider to understand where the data is stored, how data are stored, the security measures that the vendor has in place, and a checklist to ensure that all compliance measures are in place.

In all of this talk of cloud services and medical image storage, the key question to keep in mind is, “What allows the healthcare organization to provide the best care possible for its patients?”

Cloud adoption is not universal yet. Not by a long shot. But it’s gaining ground, and this is because health facilities who implement it are finding that they are able to provide healthcare that is more affordable, of a higher quality, and is more efficient. The switch to the cloud won’t happen overnight, but with more stories like the Wall Street Journal article showing up, that switch is destined to happen at a more rapid pace.

You can click on the following links for more details about Carestream’s cloud and archiving capabilities.

Cristine Kao, Global Marketing Manager, Healthcare IT, Carestream

Workflow is everything in a hospital. Not only do doctors need to perfect surgical processes, but informational processes must be perfected too, or else care might not be delivered to a patient in a timely manner. There is a breadth of technologies available today for facilities that work to improve the quality and efficiency of delivered care. The vendor-neutral archive (VNA) is one of the more popular technologies and for good reason.

The definition of a VNA often refers to an enterprise storage and workflow solution that uses neutrality to resolve a range of workflow challenges within the organization. To work properly, a VNA system must work seamlessly with other installed systems. Integrating with storage systems and adhering to numerous open standards allow the capabilities of the VNA to manage large volumes of information sharing.

The concept of neutrality is literally central to a VNA. Data must be stored in non-proprietary, interchange formats. This is what differentiates a VNA from a traditional departmental archive running a proprietary or DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) only format. The sharing of DICOM and non-DICOM data, text-based information, PDF documents, and images requires large volumes of storage and sharing, so even if a facility’s initial plans call for DICOM-only storage, neutral systems must be present to support other systems.

The importance of neutrality continues in the ongoing process of the consolidation and migration of clinical information. The strategic plan for an imaging system should acknowledge the data migrations across heterogeneous vendor systems, which leads to establishing a balance of clinical workflows and data consolidation. This approach provides the benefit of allowing a facility to maintain a legacy archive to manage historical information until a new storage system can be purchased.

The consolidation of data requires mechanism to ensure its integrity and synchronization—both vital in supporting worklists across various facilities around the world. Physicians require a unified view of a patient’s available information. To achieve this, the synchronization of incoming DICOM and non-DICOM images, reports, lab results, notes, etc., is a necessity. This capability also enables a multi-VNA installation to provide geographic disaster recovery and business continuity. That way if one system fails, the information remains accessible and transmittable in times of need.

In the end, the consolidation of existing clinical storage systems through virtualization and the elimination of multiple online/offline tiers can be made possible by the use of a VNA. Doing so creates opportunities to move infrastructure to the cloud, as many VNA providers offer managed services that maintain all aspects of the system-related expense. The result is significant cost savings and management benefits since fewer personnel are needed for system upkeep. To improve enterprise imaging workflow, the zero-footprint universal viewer serves as an important link. In all, the VNA can alleviate the daunting IT demands that go into supporting hardware and software for larger clinical bases.

For more information about VNAs, as well as real-world examples of healthcare facilities implementing VNAs to improve workflow, check out the white paper below, “Vendor-Neutral Archives: A Real-World Solution for Patient-Centric Workflow.”