Remote scanning can benefit patients, staff

Revolutionizing radiology: how AI and cutting-edge technology enhance efficiency, job satisfaction and patient care

Given the ongoing labor challenges in healthcare, it is now more important than ever to find ways to work more efficiently, simplify processes and increase job satisfaction. As healthcare systems deal with staff shortages and growing demands, it’s crucial to have efficient workflows. By using strategies to work smarter and faster, healthcare organizations can better handle their workload, reduce burnout and strengthen their team.

Remote scanning tools — like Siemens Healthineers’ Virtual Cockpit, Philips’ Radiology Operations Command Center (ROCC) and GE HealthCare’s Digital Expert Access — allow healthcare professionals to provide real-time assistance and expertise for CT and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.^1,2,3 With these technologies, a clinician guides and supervises the patient, while a virtual imaging specialist with advanced imaging skills helps through text, talk, screen sharing or video stream. Two virtual collaboration solutions for ultrasound — Phillips’ Collaboration Live and GE HealthCare’s Digital Expert Connect — improve patient care by aiding in the elimination of barriers that hinder access. Real-time screen sharing, instant messaging, teleconferencing and online chats allow clinicians to confidently deliver efficient patient care anytime, anywhere.

Not only do remote scanning and collaboration tools improve access to care and help with training, protocol management and collaboration, but they also emerge as a strategic solution to address temporary staffing issues, enhance job satisfaction and achieve a better work-life balance within the field. In the face of fluctuating staff availability, these technologies enable healthcare organizations to provide around-the-clock assistance. Using technology for continuous patient care offers radiology professionals the flexibility to work remotely, mitigating the impact of temporary staffing shortages.

Remote scanning and virtual collaboration make it easier for clinicians to connect with colleagues, seek second opinions and make decisions together.⁵

Patient safety is of utmost importance in medical imaging. However, technologists oftentimes must take their eyes off patients to complete tasks during exams, compromising safety. To address this issue, manufacturers have developed patient live-streaming video and camera technology. This technology allows healthcare providers to monitor patients even when they aren’t in the same room, ensuring continuous observation and reducing the risk of adverse events. By keeping a constant eye on the patient, rejection rates, due to patient positioning errors, can be significantly reduced. Additionally, using virtual collimation to limit the radiation exposure to the area of interest and precise isocenter positioning for CT scans can help reduce radiation exposure, making it safer for patients. Furthermore, using live-streaming video and camera technology for patients can speed up exam time and make sure that the correct body part is being scanned, making the process more efficient and accurate.

Traditionally, most imaging equipment has been in fixed and dedicated rooms, limiting accessibility and flexibility. However, the introduction of portable CT and MR scanners has revolutionized the field. By using these portable systems, healthcare providers can perform imaging studies right at the patient's bedside or in remote locations. This mobility facilitates patient care by bringing imaging services closer to the point of care, thereby minimizing the necessity for patient transfers and enhancing diagnostic precision. The use of portable systems can be cost-effective due to their ability to optimize resource utilization. Traditional imaging rooms may encounter periods of inactivity while awaiting critical patients. Portable systems can be quickly setup to manage urgent cases without disrupting the regular operations of the main imaging suite. Additionally, movable equipment provides cost-effective solutions for healthcare facilities facing constraints in space and resources.