Remote medical imaging reading is here to stay

Credit HealthImaging

PARCA eNews – July 2, 2020 – While the current pandemic has forced many more people to work from home, the trend to remote reading in radiology, has if anything, only accelerated.

In a report on the SIIM virtual meeting in June, by Matt O’Connor for HealthImaging, a panel discussion on "Remote Reading in the COVID-19 Era," Matthew Hayes, a PACS manager at Radiology Partners made the case for PACS administrators to plan for this growing trend shift to remote reading.
“I’m a firm believer there’s not going to be much of a desire to go back,” Hayes said during the presentation. “[Remote reading] could be a new normal in a specific paradigm shift for all of us and we’re going to have to adapt.”

During the discussion. Hayes suggested that institutions need to formulate a plan that considers changes in infrastructure to accommodate at-home PACS, and fully support them. There needs to be considerations for determining who needs medical grade work stations at home, and how communications and troubleshooting with PACS professionals will be carried out, as well as communications with other radiologists working remotely will be maintained. The shift will also require reallocation of budgets and other resources.

Access to SIIM 2020 remain available until July 17 via the meeting webpage.

Source: HealthImaging, "Remote reading is here to stay: How radiology can prepare for a virtual future"