As a result, many patients undergo imaging studies at multiple facilities over time, but healthcare providers do not have access to their historical imaging data. This lack of access typically results in redundant tests, increased radiation exposure, and suboptimal treatment decisions.

Benefits of improved access to imaging data
Improving access to imaging data means making every point of care where a patient was seen by a professional or had imaging done available.

• Enhanced patient outcomes: Improved access benefits healthcare professionals by allowing them to make more accurate and timely diagnoses. The ability to compare current imaging studies to historical ones promotes better identification of changes over time and helps detect disease progression in advance of serious complications.
• Comprehensive imaging data: This also enables healthcare professionals to tailor treatment plans to individual patients' needs. By understanding the precise location, size and characteristics of imaging abnormalities, clinicians can develop personalized treatments, including precision medicine, to optimize effectiveness while minimizing side effects and complications.
• Collaboration within cross-functional teams: Another benefit of enhanced imaging data access is coordination among multidisciplinary teams. Specialists from different departments can collaboratively review and interpret imaging studies, facilitating interdisciplinary communication and planning for complex cases.
• Enhanced patient engagement: Patients benefit from improved imaging access by being able to actively participate in their care decisions. With a clearer understanding of their conditions and treatment options, patients can engage in informed discussions with their healthcare providers, leading to shared decision-making.

So, why is the healthcare industry struggling to improve imaging accessibility? The main problem is that most hospitals still store images and imaging related data in silos within individual services, which leads to very poor interoperability.

Despite the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard being around for over 30 years, proprietary silos are still impeding access, and the number of CDs still in place means there is still no way to fulfill the idea of a seamless patient record.

If all data were transformed to DICOM, it would be possible to review it or allow machine learning and artificial intelligence to access it for medical research. Many vendors still use proprietary formats inside their systems, even though they might offer DICOM.

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