Peter M.A. Van Ooijen MS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Andre Broekema BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Matthys Oudkerk MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Currently, patient data are increasingly distributed using CDs. Although this has advantages major disadvantages also exist. The aim of this project was to develop an easy way to get CDs into the normal workflow of the hospital.

Main problems are that each vendor has its own viewer on the CD, every hospital has its own patient IDs, and different viewers have different user interfaces. Furthermore, some viewers need local installation, which is not allowed on many diagnostic workstations for security reasons. To tackle these issues, a software package (DICOM LiteBox, ETIAM, Rennes, France) was installed.This software reads DICOM files, allows users to link the files to an entry in the DICOM Modality WorkList (DMWL) to perform patient reconciliation, and sends the data to a DICOM node. To simplify the procedure a new software package, DICOMUploader, was developed at our department.

DICOMUploader reads all DICOM files from a CD on any workstation and displays patient name and available series. The physician can choose relevant series which are pushed to an ftp server after providing the correct patient ID. The CD remains at the physician so the data can always be accessed from the CD when needed in case of emergency. At the radiology department, the data are retrieved from the ftp archive and stored on the local harddrive automatically using DICOMUploader. Then the data is loaded into the LiteBox software and patient reconciliation is performed during the transfer to the indicated DICOM node. After the transfer is completed, this is recorded in the DICOMUploader software and the data are automatically removed from the ftp-site. Using the same DICOMUploader software package, a physician can also track whether his/her CD has already been stored into the requested DICOM node.

The new software package provides an easy way to integrate out-patient data into the normal workflow of the hospital. Furthermore it allows the physician to retain his/her CD at his/her own department and to check whether the requested action has already been performed.

The acessibility and availability of data from other institutions in a growing problem. This work proposis a possible solution.

Van Ooijen, P, Broekema, A, Oudkerk, M, IHE Complient Integration of Outpatient Data into the PACS Using a Decentralized Upload Tool.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5008796.html