Dear PACS Insider,
Mobile imaging devices confer many advantages for viewing images on the fly, but their limited functionality means they aren't likely to replace traditional workstation displays anytime soon.
For example, radiologists need more screen "real estate" for certain imaging applications, and mobile devices are designed for the consumer market and can't be calibrated, said Dr. David Hirschorn, director of radiology informatics at Staten Island University Hospital.
Even with the interest in mobile devices, traditional workstation displays will continue to be utilized, said Elizabeth Krupinski, PhD, professor and vice chair of research in radiology at the University of Arizona. Therefore, users need to be aware of new features and how to evaluate them.
In a pair of presentations at the recent New York Medical Imaging Informatics Symposium, Drs. Hirschorn and Krupinski updated attendees on the latest developments in mobile devices and traditional displays. Associate editor Cynthia E. Keen's coverage of the talks is this edition's Insider Exclusive, which you can access before the rest of our AuntMinnie.com members by clicking here.
In another talk at the symposium, PACS pioneer Dr. Eliot Siegel shared his wish list for the next generation of PACS. At the top was the desire for a transparent, scalable, hassle-free, truly vendor-neutral archive. Find out what else Dr. Siegel is hoping for by clicking here.
In other developments in mobile devices, an iPhone-based echocardiography reading app was recently shown to be feasible for providing expert overreads of studies performed on villagers in a remote area of Honduras. Find out how the combination of handheld ultrasound and a smartphone may be able to facilitate the delivery of high-quality imaging to underserved areas by clicking here.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently discussed the regulation of mobile medical apps during a public forum. While more than 20 experts shared their opinions on the matter, questions still remain on how to best regulate this rapidly exploding field. Find out more here.
You can also get an update in the PACS Digital Community on the RSNA's Image Share project, which has high hopes of sparking the nascent field of image sharing.
Do you have a topic you'd like to see covered, or are you interested in submitting an article to AuntMinnie.com? Please feel free to drop me a line.
