Created by a team of collaborators at the Helen and Will Webster Foundation’s 3D Innovation Lab at Rady Hospital, or 3DI Labs, this freely available software is being billed as the company’s first tool. this type.
WHY IT IMPORTANT
With standardization software for Digital Imaging and Medical Communications, or DICOM physicians can use standard image storage media system imaging to import and export 3D models of individual patients.
Previously, 3D images could only be accessed using specialized software.
Called Media2DICOM, the software developed at Rady allows imaging technicians to convert a patient’s 3D model video or the 3D dataset itself into standardized DICOM files.
The files are then embedded in the patient’s medical record and accessible through the healthcare facility’s PACS, where other patient facilities, such as computed tomography and imaging scans Magnetic resonance imaging, also available.
Physicians can access 3D models and look at their patients’ individual physiology to provide better care information and save time.
“We designed this tool in-house to give technicians a quick way to convert 3D models and other files that exist outside of hospital PACS into a DICOM file that doctors can access. direct access,” said Dr. Justin Ryan, director and research scientist. of 3DI Labs, explained by email.
According to the hospital announcement, 3DI Lab’s DICOM standardization software is designed to enhance better outcomes for patients and their families and has the potential to positively impact the lives of thousands of children. .
“With different healthcare systems using a wide range of different 3D modeling techniques, our team recognized an important challenge when it comes to interoperability and sought to create a solution that was The solution benefits doctors, patients and other hospitals,” he added.
The software is intended to be used only by hospitals, academies and veterinary centers for research purposes, according to the hospital’s website.
Note, “Media2DICOM gets all relevant information from the reference DICOM, the data will be processed in plaintext. It is important for administrators to ensure appropriate role-based access to the DICOMs. referenced”, according to the software’s quick start guide.
“As a leading healthcare organization powered by technology, we ensure rigorous testing and validation of our code by internal and external parties to reduce risk,” explains Ryan. affect the patient”. “Due to the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, we feel it’s important to note that DICOM currently does not support full workflow encryption.”
He added that by having a clear understanding of when and how to use plain text, hospital IT staff can ensure the right protocols and security controls are in place.
Media2DICOM supports many formats and is available for download.
TREND TO BIGGER WOMAN
Cloud-based PACS has opened up previously secured imaging systems for radiology teams, cutting costs and allowing physicians to access patient imaging studies from the office, their own home and from afar.
David-Paul Cavazos, then CEO of Republic County Hospital based in Belleville, Kansas and now CEO of Hodgeman County Medical Center in Jetmore, Kansas, told IT news about healthcare in 2018.
However, last year, the US Department of Health and Human Services warned about PACS security vulnerabilities.
HHS says DICOM, developed 30 years ago, is very vulnerable to exploitation. The agency’s Health Area Cybersecurity Coordination Center has identified thousands of PACS servers that need to be patched.
DICOM-based exploits include medical diagnostic manipulation, false scanning, and malware deployment or destruction, according to HC3. The center said in the warning, cybercriminals could “compromise connected clinical devices and spread malicious code to other parts of the network undetected,” if the vulnerable PACS has not yet been compromised. patched.
ON PROFILE
“Ultimately, Media2DICOM will make it easier for doctors to access 3D models of patients, giving them a full view of the patient’s anatomy before performing complex surgeries,” Ryan said. This will promote better outcomes for patients.”
Andrea Fox is the senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: [email protected]
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.
