Radiology Reporting in Rural Alberta

1
Radiology Reporting in Rural Alberta

• Communities without Boundaries
• October 31, 2008

2
Background

• altaPACS was created in 2003 to provide IT
  services for radiologists
• Our main clients are Radiology Consultants
  Associated and EFW Radiology in Calgary, AB
• We design, implement and manage all core systems
  for diagnostic imaging

clinical practice , technical design and
integration
3
Rural community requirements

• Rural communities can equip and staff up to
  perform some diagnostic imaging procedures
• Referring physicians require reports and images
  quickly

• Challenges
• Radiologist report turnaround time has been
  lengthy
• Some important modalities (MRI) are traditionally
  reserved for large metropolitan areas

4
Rural radiology through SuperNet

• Aspen and East Central Health collaborated to
  provide a mobile MRI for 5 rural communities
• East Central Health needed new reporting
  radiologists within a 30 day notice period for 9
  regional facilities

5
Impact of new services

• MRI imaging now available in rural communities,
  reducing lengthy trips and wait times
• Turnaround times for X-ray and ultrasound from a
  minimum of 36 hours to less than 2 hours
• Improved patient care through proactive notice
  for cases with complications

• Access to a pool of forty radiologists, many who
  are subspecialty trained
• Significant reduction in administrative costs due
  to direct integration

6
Summary

• rural communities can improve patient care with
  advanced technology access to specialized medical
  skills
• the SuperNet is a key component in delivering
  these solutions
• expansion of advanced technologies to other rural
  communities is underway and can be expanded more
  broadly