EMix
Encyclopedia
eMix, which stands for Electronic Medical Information Exchange, is a cloud computing
-based technology for secure sharing of medical imaging
studies and reports between disparate healthcare facilities and physicians. eMix was developed to address a challenge in medical imaging: How to exchange medical imaging data between proprietary information technology
(IT) systems that do not “talk to each other.”, ,
The service also provides an alternative to legacy solutions typically used for sharing medical imaging data., , Examples of such legacy methods include:
eMix was one of the first cloud-based systems for accomplishing these tasks.,
Cloud-based services are likely to help facilitate the trend toward universal access to medical imaging and other electronic medical information. For example, members of health information exchanges (HIEs) can use a service such as eMix to share radiology data even when those members have mutually incompatible IT systems. The service also makes it possible for a healthcare institution to include radiology data obtained from out-of-network facilities or physicians in the institution's PACS
, radiology information system
(RIS), healthcare information system (HIS), or electronic medical record
(EMR). Finally, it is a logical system for patients to use when adding medical imaging information to their personal health record
(PHR).
A potential advantage of using a cloud-based system is affordability. Healthcare institutions, physician offices, and patients need no special infrastracture to use such a system -- they only need a computer connected via broadband
to the Internet. They don't even need to acquire special hardware or software, and can pay for the service on a per-use basis, much like phone service.,
, an independent provider of enterprise imaging and information management
systems for hospitals, integrated healthcare networks and diagnostic imaging centers,
eMix debuted in beta phase in late 2009. During this period, it was successfully tested by three medical facilities in Montana on behalf of Image Movement of Montana, an organization of 30 medical institutions in Montana that formed to seek more efficient ways of sharing medical imaging data, The three IMOM members implemented eMix on a clinical basis in December 2009, becoming the first facilities in the nation to exchange data with the system, , Other IMOM facilities have since tested and implemented eMix, as well.
eMix was launched as a commercially available product in early 2010. Besides the IMOM facilities, eMix is currently being used by healthcare providers in Florida, California, Texas, Washington, Alaska, Tennessee, Arkansas, and South Dakota.
European eMix service is scheduled to debut in European countries in the Fall of 2010.
, M.D., a board-certified diagnostic radiologist and company co-founder. The company's President and Chief Executive Officer is Richard Porritt
. The General Manager for eMix is Florent Saint-Clair.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
-based technology for secure sharing of medical imaging
Medical imaging
Medical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
studies and reports between disparate healthcare facilities and physicians. eMix was developed to address a challenge in medical imaging: How to exchange medical imaging data between proprietary information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
(IT) systems that do not “talk to each other.”, ,
The service also provides an alternative to legacy solutions typically used for sharing medical imaging data., , Examples of such legacy methods include:
- Virtual private networks
- Burning and mailing CDs
- Printing and mailing film, and
- Faxing reports.
eMix was one of the first cloud-based systems for accomplishing these tasks.,
Cloud-based services are likely to help facilitate the trend toward universal access to medical imaging and other electronic medical information. For example, members of health information exchanges (HIEs) can use a service such as eMix to share radiology data even when those members have mutually incompatible IT systems. The service also makes it possible for a healthcare institution to include radiology data obtained from out-of-network facilities or physicians in the institution's PACS
PACS
PACS is an acronym with several meanings:*Pacte civil de solidarité, a form of civil union in France*Palo Alto Chinese School, Palo Alto, Calif.*Partial Anterior Circulation Stroke Syndrome, the symptoms of a type of an ischemic stroke...
, radiology information system
Radiology Information System
A radiology information system is a computerized database used by radiology departments to store, manipulate and distribute patient radiological data and imagery. The system generally consists of patient tracking and scheduling, result reporting and image tracking capabilities...
(RIS), healthcare information system (HIS), or electronic medical record
Electronic medical record
An electronic medical record is a computerized medical record created in an organization that delivers care, such as a hospital or physician's office...
(EMR). Finally, it is a logical system for patients to use when adding medical imaging information to their personal health record
Personal health record
A personal health record or PHR is a health record where health data is curated by an individual user themselves. This stands in contrast with the more widely used electronic medical record which is held by institutions such as a hospital and contains data entered by clinicians or billing data in...
(PHR).
A potential advantage of using a cloud-based system is affordability. Healthcare institutions, physician offices, and patients need no special infrastracture to use such a system -- they only need a computer connected via broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
to the Internet. They don't even need to acquire special hardware or software, and can pay for the service on a per-use basis, much like phone service.,
History
The cloud-based service is a business venture of DR SystemsDR Systems
DR Systems, Inc. is an independent provider of enterprise imaging and information management systems for hospitals, integrated healthcare networks and diagnostic imaging centers...
, an independent provider of enterprise imaging and information management
Information management
Information management is the collection and management of information from one or more sources and the distribution of that information to one or more audiences. This sometimes involves those who have a stake in, or a right to that information...
systems for hospitals, integrated healthcare networks and diagnostic imaging centers,
eMix debuted in beta phase in late 2009. During this period, it was successfully tested by three medical facilities in Montana on behalf of Image Movement of Montana, an organization of 30 medical institutions in Montana that formed to seek more efficient ways of sharing medical imaging data, The three IMOM members implemented eMix on a clinical basis in December 2009, becoming the first facilities in the nation to exchange data with the system, , Other IMOM facilities have since tested and implemented eMix, as well.
eMix was launched as a commercially available product in early 2010. Besides the IMOM facilities, eMix is currently being used by healthcare providers in Florida, California, Texas, Washington, Alaska, Tennessee, Arkansas, and South Dakota.
European eMix service is scheduled to debut in European countries in the Fall of 2010.
Management
DR System's Chairman of the Board is Murray ReicherDR Systems
DR Systems, Inc. is an independent provider of enterprise imaging and information management systems for hospitals, integrated healthcare networks and diagnostic imaging centers...
, M.D., a board-certified diagnostic radiologist and company co-founder. The company's President and Chief Executive Officer is Richard Porritt
DR Systems
DR Systems, Inc. is an independent provider of enterprise imaging and information management systems for hospitals, integrated healthcare networks and diagnostic imaging centers...
. The General Manager for eMix is Florent Saint-Clair.
eMix Workflow
Workflow using eMix takes place as follows:- The sender selects the exam and other desired documents to send from a worklist of electronically stored radiology files and uploads the “package” to eMix.
- The sender then selects a recipient from a list of authorized users (user authorization and authentication preserve privacy and confidentiality and strengthen compliance with HIPAA provisions).
- eMix sends a notification email to the recipient, who can then log in and click on links to the package to preview the images and reports, or download and view the DICOM image exam and related reports documents using a free DICOM viewer.,
See also
- Cloud computingCloud computingCloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
- DICOM
- Electronic health recordElectronic Health RecordAn electronic health record is an evolving concept defined as a systematic collection of electronic health information about individual patients or populations...
(EHR) - Electronic Medical RecordElectronic medical recordAn electronic medical record is a computerized medical record created in an organization that delivers care, such as a hospital or physician's office...
(EMR) - Health informaticsHealth informatics.Health informatics is a discipline at the intersection of information science, computer science, and health care...
- Medical imagingMedical imagingMedical imaging is the technique and process used to create images of the human body for clinical purposes or medical science...
- Personal health recordPersonal health recordA personal health record or PHR is a health record where health data is curated by an individual user themselves. This stands in contrast with the more widely used electronic medical record which is held by institutions such as a hospital and contains data entered by clinicians or billing data in...
- Picture archiving and communication systemPicture archiving and communication systemA picture archiving and communication system is a medical imaging technology which provides economical storage of, and convenient access to, images from multiple modalities . Electronic images and reports are transmitted digitally via PACS; this eliminates the need to manually file, retrieve, or...
- RadiologyRadiologyRadiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...
- Radiology Information SystemRadiology Information SystemA radiology information system is a computerized database used by radiology departments to store, manipulate and distribute patient radiological data and imagery. The system generally consists of patient tracking and scheduling, result reporting and image tracking capabilities...