Expert Eye – Image transfer

A core feature of an effective teleradiology reporting service is an efficient image transfer system. Expert Eye uses a number of alternative means of transferring images from the site of imaging (hospital, clinic, mobile MRI scanner, etc.) to our radiology reporting centres. Selection of the best method for your hospital depends on a number of factors, including the daily workload, technical specification and age of imaging equipment, urgency of reports required, and availability of local broadband data links. Expert Eye can help you to select the most efficient, reliable and cheapest means for your local needs.

1. Teleradiology (Digital image transfer): This is the most up-to-date means of transferring images. Images are acquired and transmitted via data networks in digital form (usually DICOM standard – the widely adopted international digital imaging standard). There are many different image network specialists, and we have links with the largest, most reliable and cost-effective systems in the UK.

The hospital sending images and the reporting centre can be linked through a number of different electronic networks. These vary in complexity, cost and bandwidth capacity (i.e. image transfer rate).

• ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network): This currently remains the most widely available image link. It has the advantage that it can be set up on any conventional telephone network without major hardware changes. This technique is suitable for image transfer equivalent of up to 2,000 images per day (e.g. 20-30 MRI examinations per day.)
  
  
• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): This technology increases the data transfer capacity to 40 to 50 times faster than ISDN. Its availability remains limited to larger towns and cities at present, but it is becoming the industry standard. This method is suitable for the servicing of larger units, such as a cross-sectional imaging suite, or medium sized radiology department.
  
  
• Cable, Ethernet, Microwave and Satellite: There are a number of other network alternatives to conventional telephone lines, and their local availability, suitability and reliability depend on geographical location. Expert Eye can help you to select the most appropriate line for your needs.

2. Film Courier Services: We use a comprehensive, reliable, efficient and competitively priced network of national and international couriers (overland and air) providing overnight transfer of hard-copy imaging films. This method is optimal for centres with older radiology equipment unsuitable for adapting to direct data image transfer. It is also useful for departments requiring shorter term radiology reporting contracts, for waiting list initiatives, sickness cover, or reporting backlogs.

3. Digitisation of imaging film: For certain remote centres, the age of imaging equipment may be unsuitable for direct digital transfer, and hard copy image transfer may be too slow, costly, or impractical. For these centres conventionally acquired images may be digitised in an image scanner, and the digitised images transmitted down conventional telephone lines in a similar way to teleradiology.

Cost: A number of factors play a part in selecting the best image transfer method, and high ranking amongst these is cost-effectiveness. The cost of establishing image links is surprisingly cheap, and once set-up, expenses are limited to service support and the cost of a telephone line.

Data Security / Encryption
Data security is of paramount importance when transferring medical image data. All report data is encrypted before transfer effectively eliminating the risk of data hacking. Our reporting units are also protected by secure firewalls.

Quality control
In addition to providing the highest quality radiology reporting services, Expert Eye reporting centres use equipment of the highest standards. All equipment we use conforms to the industry standards set out in the Royal College of Radiologists advisory document ‘Guide to information technology in radiology: teleradiology and PACS’.