Blog

Over the past decade, we've found that the amount of medical images and other records that are being shared electronically has exponentially increased from a combination of improved cloud computing capabilities and the market's desire for data mobility. The 2020 pandemic spurred further innovation and adoption, as physicians and patients all over the world required digital solutions to function. As the adoption of electronic sharing grows, both physicians and patients benefit from increased access to medical records and reduced lead time. There are a few ways to share studies electronically, but some are more efficient than others. 

Physicians wear many hats, including serving as educators and researchers. Since medical images can be invaluable during presentations, Purview Image™ is often used by these physicians and their staff to collect, store, and access cases for subsequent review. Purview Image™ has also been used by large health systems to conduct major research initiatives because the platform easily grants users the ability to collaborate remotely and securely back up files within a HIPAA compliant, cloud-based system.

In case you missed the webinar, How Far Can Horos Go?, where Les Trachtman and I spoke about Horos, here's a recap!

Horos is a free medical image viewer for Mac computers that allows users to view studies that are locally stored on their machine. It's great for quick and easy access to scans that you have a local copy of.

Although it has its perks, there are a few drawbacks to Horos. The limitations of Horos include no Windows PC version, limited reporting options, and no FDA approval for primary diagnosis.

Common issues for Horos users include:

If you’ve used Horos, a free open-source DICOM viewer for Mac computers, you may know about the helpful tools accessible at your fingertips. The locally installed program allows users to view images in 3D, generate multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images, and even perform DICOM sends over a network.  All of this for free? Yep. Horos is a great app that happens to be supported by Purview, a software-driven healthcare company whose mission is to open access to medical expertise, improving patient outcomes.

In a rural town in the United States, Jordan’s infant son, Milo, was born with a cranial abnormality. Upon medical evaluation at their local hospital, the infant was diagnosed with craniosynostosis, a congenital disorder characterized by premature fusion of cranial sutures leading to a misshapen skull and potential brain growth restriction. Milo required major surgery to address his condition, but due to the scarcity of specialized healthcare services in their region, particularly for such a complex procedure, the family could not access the necessary medical expertise. Desperate for support, Jordan researched her son's condition and located a children's hospital with a top-ranked Craniofacial surgeon. Yet, the facility was nearly one thousand miles away from their hometown, and due to financial constraints, such as the cost of transportation, lodging, and time off from work, Jordan doubted their ability to make the trip across the country for the surgical evaluation. She worried that even if they could get there, what would happen if her son was not a good candidate for the surgery? It was not a realistic option for them to visit multiple hospitals in person to receive second opinions, and she felt stuck. Jordan’s story represents the struggle of many Americans to access quality medical care for their children without facing significant geographic and financial barriers. For this reason, many families seek answers closer to home, instead of receiving care from top experts, which can reduce positive healthcare outcomes.