TK: There is evidence that imaging sharing can be critical to improving the quality of care and reducing health care costs.

1. A patient arrives at a rural hospital ED with cardiac symptoms. After a series of tests, the rural hospital decides to transfer the patient to an urban hospital for a higher level of care. When the patient arrives at the urban center, the ED physicians can access the tests that have already been completed, saving time, costs and radiation exposure.

2. A patient in the hospital has neurological symptoms. By viewing past MRI images, the physician can compare newer images to see regions of significant change. The image exchange supports diagnostic efforts with more information.
3. A surgeon needs to have access to all radiology images before surgery on a patient. Rather than counting on a patient to bring a CD, or finding out the CD won't load, the image exchange is always available for access to multiple images.

DMN: You have recently enhanced the Rochester RHIO. How do you think it will help providers and patients?
TK: The new image exchange provides faster access, and it adds an enhanced image viewer that allows the user to view multiple images. This viewer will allow two physicians at different sites to electronically collaborate in reviewing a image.

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