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John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | February 05, 2018
From the January/February 2018 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
A topic on the rise in discussions of imaging IT and the capabilities of emerging technology is artificial intelligence. Anyone who attended the RSNA annual meeting last November can attest that AI has stimulated interest and fear as well as excitement over the changes it will bring to workflow in day-to-day tasks, but caution over whether or not it will become a replacement for radiologists.
Manufacturers and experts assert that AI will most likely function as an assistant to the radiologist, who may evolve into something of a data intelligence manager. Still, AI applications are subject to the same approval processes as present-day technology.
“From what I hear, at least from a lot of our customers, is it’s academically interesting and extremely important, but it’s not tomorrow morning that all of these applications are going to suddenly become FDA-regulated for approval,” says Hale.
Intelerad’s Lafleur agrees that by exciting the imagination, AI can sometimes generate more of a fuss than may be warranted.
“I think one of the things that is forgotten with the focus on future tech, such as AI, is the other technologies that can boost workflow intelligence,” she says, referencing workflow intelligence solutions like Intelerad’s SmartLayouts and InteleOne XE products.
Meanwhile, as radiology sheds its silo and joins the enterprise, hospital IT departments have taken on much more responsibility within the imaging department. While skilled for such a task, the result can have some negative aspects.
“What’s happened with IT now in charge of software and image management solutions is that these IT groups are overloaded and all they can do is function in maintenance mode,” says Konica Minolta’s Deaton. “They don’t have time to investigate what efficiencies could be leveraged, or if they can reduce the number of products and consolidate with one or two vendors. IT departments need the time to explore what is needed clinically so providers can do more with less.”
As the industry increasingly warms up to the notion of enterprise imaging, these kinds of growing pains are likely to continue. Debating the right way to bring imaging IT into the modern era is the only way to make the right investments, and the conclusions will be unique to the individual needs of the providers having those discussions.
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