Medicine

Magazine recognizes Hershey Medical Center for radiation imaging technology

Hershey, Pa. -- Out of 250 health-care facilities nationwide, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was named a Top 15 Connected Health-care Facility by Health Imaging & IT Magazine, for its use of digital (filmless) technology allowing imaging scans to be captured and shared instantaneously with other health-care providers having access to a digital system.

Each year the publication selects the Top 15 Connected Health-care Facilities based on their use of digital imaging technology and information systems that facilitate better workflow and patient care and reduce overall costs. Winners were selected based on eight categories including number of departments sending, receiving and sharing digital images, such as X-rays and MRIs; the percentage of the facility that is filmless; and the number of departments that have access to digital images. Also factored into the award are the number and percentage of referring physicians with online access to digital images and the variety of imaging and information systems installed.

"With a digital department, images are available for patient management at the point of care 24 hours per day, 365 days per year," said Douglas Eggli, director of medical image management in the department of radiology. "Here at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, more than 1,000 caregivers have immediate access to imaging studies in real time, whenever and wherever they need them, from the trauma bays to the ORs to the intensive-care units, or in the outpatient clinics. In the near future, we plan to expand these services to outside users of our imaging services."

The department of radiology at Penn State Hershey Medical Center completes approximately 250,000 imaging procedures annually. By the end of January 2005, all radiology procedures, with the exception of mammography, will be digital. Filmless delivery allows immediate access to digital images by any medical personnel connected to the system. The elimination of delays for film developing and transport enhances patient care and satisfaction.

Survey nominations were collected from an online database of more than 13,000 health-care business and clinical professionals. The winners were announced in the December issue of Health Imaging and IT Magazine.

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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