Re: Re: What I learned about xrays

April 27, 2004

> As followup, I THINK (but am not sure) that my hosp could not do the larger

films digitally and the reason they still had the " old " way of doing films and

the darkroom was to accommodate extra long films. I am not of the techie

generation tho so again, I offer this only so if anyone is trying to get films

from one place to another you can inquire about this issue.

> From: " ekm1220 " <elissajunk@...>

> Date: 2004/04/27 Tue PM 04:17:34 EDT

>

> Subject: Re: What I learned about xrays

>

> Hi, all:

>

> recently wrote about some issues associated with digital

> imaging for X-rays. My experience with these was positive -- my

> surgeon had no problem with my walking out of the office with her

> prints, because she had access to the digital versions if she ever

> needed to see the prior scans.

>

> I am guessing (but it's ONLY guessing) that they must also have the

> ability to print something you could slap up on a lightboard from the

> digital file, and probably more cheaply than duplicating original X-

> rays. But, I am TOTALLY out of my element here, and I don't have time

> to research it, so if anyone has any knowledge of print and sharing

> techniques for modern radiology and imaging, I'd love to know. Seems

> crazy to have the electronic version but be limited to keeping it in

> the digital format only, especially when so many places you'd need to

> send records might not be able to correctly handle the digital file.

>

> Elissa

>

> >

> > >

> > > I just realized that I promised to let everyone know what I

> learned about getting followup xrays - this will help ppl who are

> sending films to a doc out of state, whether for initial opinion or

> for followup.

> >

> > Because i am anal (and have learned that this quality pays off in

> health issues) I called my local ortho office the day before my appt

> to ask about the mechanics of getting my 3 month postop films.

> Specifically, I called to ask that they go ahead and write the order

> for the films so I could go early and have the films done before my

> appt so that when I saw the doc we'd have them and the report.

> >

> > They were happy to do this and it was a time saver. However, I

> also discovered that many places are switching to digital films. I

> told them I needed to leave with tangible films in my hand, and that

> I could not send some sort of computer film to my old school doc.

> (Do not know if this is true; just felt safer in being able to have

> and hold actual films myself).

> >

> > My hosp still has the technology to take traditional films; some

> may not. If you run into this situation and have to have digitals,

> you would want to make sure both offices had the same digital

> capability, or any digital capability.

> >

> > Also, in my case at least, my doc has made it clear that the only

> films he deems acceptable are referred to as either 36 inch lateral

> and a/p views, also known as scoliosis views. This is a film that

> has 3 panels and folds. At one point in my journey I had someone do

> films and they were not long enough and essentially proved useless.

> These show from the base of the skull to the sacrum, at least on me!

> >

> > The digital stuff was news to me so I thought i'd pass it on. I

> can see how having that would be v. useful in getting opinions across

> the country of the docs reviewing it assuming they have the right

> tchnology. Feel free to ask Q's if this is not clear. I'm v. tired &

> not thinking too clearly.

> > >

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

>

April 30, 2004

My .02 cents here...

Hubby is an IT Consultant.

Everything is going digital now. Scans, MRI's, X-rays even, and mammograms.

There's lots more going digital, but I cannot remember them all now. Too tired.

'nite,

April 30, 2004

True, they still do the tangible x-rays as opposed to digital so they can " see "

things to show the patient. But everything can be digital zooming in on certain

points of an x-ray. So they do both for different purposes. It's the new way of

storing patients' files too. Years from now we can obtain files easier.

May 2, 2004

Elissa and others interested in digital radioraphs,

When I went to get a 4 yr. post-revision check-up recently (WOW!! can't believe

it's been 4 yrs!!) I was suprised to find out that my surgeon's office has gone

digital also! The technique for doing the films was the same; the difference was

the processing...there was none! The image was sent to a computer screen in the

tech's little booth. From there, it can be accessed at any computer terminal in

the officce. She also explained that they can print a copy from the computer

just as you would print anything else from your computer screen. When I asked

the cost of such high tech stuff she said that in the long run they've found

it's actually cheaper; no more clerks needed to file old films, no large storage

areas needed, etc. And for a minimal fee ($10.00 in their office) they will

print a copy for the patient to take home also. The only thing they won't do

(yet) is e-mail a copy to a patient's home computer; they can, however, e-mail

the x-rays to any other office/hospital that is set up for the digital films.

My, my...how far we've come!

All the best,

Beth