Johns Hopkins Develops Cloud-Based PACS MR Database

Written by Ronny Bachrach on August 22, 2014. Posted in Cloud, Digital Radiography and PACS, Software

Allowing radiologists to access medical imaging results from any location with the touch of a button can lead to improved clinical outcomes for patients. As a result, cloud computing has emerged as a top competitor for PACS replacement purchases by radiologists, including those at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Recently, the prestigious school developed a cloud database of MR images that were collected from children with both normal and abnormal brain structures. The search system is akin to Google, allowing doctors to quickly scan the results for relevant information that pertains to their current cases. It aims to improve the way pediatric brain disorders are diagnosed and treated by physicians.

"The project will allow doctors to search imaging records and find other annotated images in the database which 'appear the same' based on their anatomical phenotype," Michael Miller, Ph.D., lead investigator and director of the Center for Imaging Science at Johns Hopkins University, said in a statement.

Supported by a three-year, $600,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health, the project is under development by a team of engineers and radiologists. Currently, the NIH is investing in Big Data to Knowledge, or BD2K, an initiative that seeks to optimize the collection and use of abundant electronic health information generated by EHRs and other software.

By permitting diagnostic imaging to be searched through a database, doctors can better coordinate care across practices and facilitate health services.

The power of cloud-based PACS
As physicians from ranging specialties are given unfettered access to radiological results, the ability to properly track patients' statuses between departments is improved. Operating in the cloud can provide better image sharing for hospitals and other care centers that aim to bolster their patient engagement strategies and cut down on expenses caused by factors such as readmissions and repeated exams, Diagnostic Imaging explained.

The pediatric database created at Johns Hopkins enables searches for structural and functional imaging phenotype records to better understand similar cases. In addition, doctors can review EHR annotations and make any necessary adjustments to correlate with newly found information.

A text-based searching technique serves to mitigate indices of medical images, making the retrieval process much faster than before. Furthermore, this can also lead to better discovery of diseases and access to previous treatment strategies. For example, brain atrophy is typically evident in many dementia patients, but its patterns are complex. With the cloud-based PACS and searchable database, physicians can compare past instances of dementia and compare them to existing scans to locate early warning signs.

Contact Viztek for more information.

Ronny Bachrach

Ronny Bachrach

Marketing Director at Viztek LLC
Responsible for all marketing activities including, press, advertising, trade show coordination, website management, dealer and customer communications.
Ronny Bachrach
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