Brian Stephen Garra MD, Abstract Co-Author: Equipment support, Ultrasonix Medical Corporation

Kristen K. Destigter MD, Presenter: Consultant, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV Consultant, peerVue, LLC

Kyle Lawton, Abstract Co-Author: CEO, peerVue, LLC

Rielly Matthew, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV

Allan Noordvyk BSC, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, McKesson Corporation

C. Sebastian Massey, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, peerVue, LLC

Frank Miele MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Founder and President, Pegasus Lectures, Inc

Our system has the potential to report more efficiently and track quality and outcomes more reliably than any current system in the developing world.

Imaging the World (ITW) is a non-profit bringing advanced medical imaging to under-resourced rural settings worldwide. The model uses an inexpensive ultrasound system deployed to a village or small clinic. Special scanning protocols enable individuals with no imaging experience to scan a body region using only external landmarks acquiring images every few mm. The images are converted to video, compressed and sent via cell modem to an international PACS for interpretation. We now hypothesize that additional advanced computer technology can be employed to markedly speed up results reporting and outcomes tracking. ITW and its collaborators have developed such a system.  

Evaluation A PACS integrated structured reporting system was created to return results rapidly to the point of care and also to the referral hospital. Findings are sent as an action oriented simple SMS message to the cell phone of the operator performing the study. At the same time, a link to the full report plus images is emailed to the local hospital. Report monitoring is integrated into the system. This feature tracks discrepancies between the report and clinical follow-up, and also provides for peer review to check the performance of volunteer readers. Outcomes tracking has been added to the system. This component allows entry of outcomes based on clinical, imaging, surgical, and pathological assessment. Patient contact information is recorded to enable workers to track down patients who do not return to clinic. System testing is underway in rural Uganda. As volunteers use the reporting system and field workers gather outcomes, each component is evaluated and deficiencies are corrected on an ongoing basis.  

Deploying our system in rural areas with limited resources using workers with limited training is a challenge. Also, getting users to use the system consistently may be a problem long term. How effectively ITW can motivate users to use the system to its potential is currently being tested in Uganda.

Garra, B, Destigter, K, Lawton, K, Matthew, R, Noordvyk, A, Massey, C, Miele, F, Computerized Reporting and Outcome Tracking of Remotely Reported Examinations in a Low-Resourced Rural Environment: Requirements and Practical Solutions.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11014082.html