Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for determining a hanging protocol for display of clinical images in a study. Certain embodiments provide a method for determining a hanging protocol for clinical image display. The method includes capturing one or more high level characteristics for an image study based on relationships between images in the study. The method also includes identifying one or more low level characteristics for individual images in the image study. The method further includes classifying the image study based on a combination of the high level characteristics and the low level characteristics. The method additionally includes determining a hanging protocol for the image study based on the classifying. The method includes providing the hanging protocol for display of images in the image study.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for determining a hanging protocol for display of clinical images in a study. Certain embodiments provide a method for determining a hanging protocol for clinical image display. The method includes capturing one or more high level characteristics for an image study based on relationships between images in the study. The method also includes identifying one or more low level characteristics for individual images in the image study. The method further includes classifying the image study based on a combination of the high level characteristics and the low level characteristics. The method additionally includes determining a hanging protocol for the image study based on the classifying. The method includes providing the hanging protocol for display of images in the image study.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for determining a hanging protocol for display of clinical images in a study. Certain embodiments provide a method for determining a hanging protocol for clinical image display. The method includes capturing one or more high level characteristics for an image study based on relationships between images in the study. The method also includes identifying one or more low level characteristics for individual images in the image study. The method further includes classifying the image study based on a combination of the high level characteristics and the low level characteristics. The method additionally includes determining a hanging protocol for the image study based on the classifying. The method includes providing the hanging protocol for display of images in the image study.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for determining a hanging protocol for display of clinical images in a study. Certain embodiments provide a method for determining a hanging protocol for clinical image display. The method includes capturing one or more high level characteristics for an image study based on relationships between images in the study. The method also includes identifying one or more low level characteristics for individual images in the image study. The method further includes classifying the image study based on a combination of the high level characteristics and the low level characteristics. The method additionally includes determining a hanging protocol for the image study based on the classifying. The method includes providing the hanging protocol for display of images in the image study.

Abstract: Clinical information tracking and alerting systems are disclosed herein. An example method of providing feedback to healthcare practitioners includes receiving a subscription to clinical information associated with a patient from a healthcare practitioner; searching a database of shared clinical information to identify recently entered clinical information, wherein searching the database is automated to be performed according to a schedule; determining whether the recently entered clinical information includes medical data associated with the patient; and publishing the medical data associated with the patient to the healthcare practitioner.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing patient and healthcare providers with access to a patient EHR a computer workstation. A user interface accessible via a network is provided that allows a user to access an EHR system comprising at least one patient EHR. The user is identified using a security administrator, and access is granted and denied based on user identification. The user obtains a patient EHR from the EHR system by providing instructions via the user interface. The user is provided with at least one functionality application allowing a user to add information to the patient EHR. The patient EHR is updated based upon the information entered by the user using the at least one functionality application and storing the updated patient EHR in the EHR database.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for searching for and scheduling healthcare provider visit appointments via a user interface. A user may access a healthcare visit agent via the internet, and instruct the agent, via a user interface, to conduct a search among one or more healthcare provider systems for available visit appointments. In certain embodiments the agent generates an array of available appointments based on search criteria entered by a user via the user interface, and then populates the user interface with the array. A user may then select one or more healthcare provider appointments from the array, and instruct a scheduler to reserve the appointment time for the user at the healthcare provider. In certain embodiments the user may search for available appointments based on visit basis criteria, location criteria, calendar criteria, insurance criteria, patient satisfaction criteria and patient retention criteria.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for prioritizing medical imaging scans. An image acquisition device, such as a computerized tomography (CT) system, an ultrasound system, an electron beam tomography (EBT) system, a magnetic resonance (MR) system and the like, generates medical imaging scans. A computer aided diagnosis application manager may be used to select a computer aided diagnosis application based on information associated with an imaging scan. The imaging scan may be examined with the computer aided diagnosis application. If the examination of the imaging scan indicates the imaging scan contains urgent findings, the imaging scan may be identified as priority. The indication of the imaging scan as priority may be communicated to a physician so the physician may review the priority imaging scan before non-priority imaging scans.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for the identification and retrieval of relevant archived medical information. The system includes a user interface component and a processing component. The user interface component is adapted to determine a key, which includes one or more key values. The key values may represent one or more anatomical feature of a patient. The processing component is adapted to aggregate data based at least in part on the key values. The system may also include a searchable database containing relevant archived medical information. The system may also include a display device and a storage device adapted to, respectively, display and store data retrieved from the database.

Abstract: An automated system and method for updating reference materials in a healthcare setting. The automated system may comprise a collection of medical reference materials connected to a network, an exam database connected to the network, and a workstation connected to the network for evaluating data stored in the exam database. The method may comprise the steps of tagging exam data, processing the exam data to extract categorizing information, categorizing the exam data, and storing the exam data in a reference collection.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for correlating an acquired image with an historical image. Certain embodiments include registering an acquired image and at least one historical image according to a coordinate system, applying a metric to the acquired image and each of the historical image(s), and identifying a correlation between the acquired image and one of the historical image(s) based on the metric. Certain embodiments further include storing the correlation between the acquired image and an historical image for automatic linking of the acquired image and the historical image upon display. In certain embodiments, the acquired image and the historical image may be displayed based on the correlation. In certain embodiments, the acquired image and the historical image may be automatically linked based on the correlation. In certain embodiments, the metric analyzes the acquired image and at least one historical image based on anatomy.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for image registration and display of relevant information. The method includes identifying one or more anatomical parts in an acquired image, mapping the acquired image to a reference image based on the one or more anatomical parts, storing anatomy information in relation to the acquired image, and displaying the acquired image based on the anatomy information. The method may also include controlling the displaying of the acquired image based on a voice command related to the anatomy information. Anatomy information may be displayed with the acquired image. Anatomy information may include clinical information, reference information, disease process information, a related image, and/or drug interaction information, for example. The acquired image may be displayed according to a display setting, such as a window level setting and/or other display setting, based on the anatomy information.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for automatic image post processing in a healthcare environment. In an embodiment, an automatic post processing image generation system includes at least one user interface, which is adapted to display at least one image on an image viewer and perform image post processing using at least one image post processing application. The system also includes at least one storage server capable of storing user data, wherein the user data includes at least one image and/or at least one post processing parameter. In addition, the system includes a post processing engine for automatically generating and displaying a current post processed image based on at least one image registration technique to correlate the at least one post processing parameter of a related previous post processed image with a current image.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method of coordinating scheduling including: evaluating patient associated information corresponding to a patient having a scheduled examination; evaluating healthcare service provider associated information corresponding to at least one healthcare service provider; predicting an efficiency for one of the at least one healthcare service provider performing the scheduled examination based at least in part on the patient associated information and the healthcare service provider associated information; and adjusting a state of a coordination indicator based at least in part on the efficiency.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer instructions for assessing alertness of an operator of an image review system. In an embodiment, such a system includes: an input module configured to allow alertness data to be input; an alertness assessment module configured to evaluate alertness based on the alertness data; and an output module configured to output information based on the evaluation made by the alertness assessment module. In certain embodiments, the input module may input alertness data from: a three-dimensional coordinate tracking system; a brain wave monitoring device; an eye movement monitoring device; a video recording device; and/or an eye closure monitoring device, for example. In certain embodiments, the alertness assessment module may evaluate alertness data using: a Psychomotor Vigilance Performance Task; the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale; and/or a Visual Analogue Sleepiness Scale, for example.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for interpreting images. An image acquisition device, such as a computerized tomography (CT) system, an ultrasound system, an electron beam tomography (EBT) system, a magnetic resonance (MR) system and the like, generates images and image sets, including a first image set and a second image set. A user may select notable images from the first image as significant images. Image content registration software identifies the contents of the significant images and the contents of the second image set. The contents may be anatomical contents. The contents of the significant images are compared to the contents of the second image set. Images from the second image set having contents corresponding to contents of the significant images are selected as preferred images. The preferred images may be labeled and displayed to a user.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer instructions for recommending functionality to users of a system with one or more users. In an embodiment, a functionality recommendation system includes a usage tracking module for tracking usage of functionality by users of a system with one or more users and a recommendation module for: (1) suggesting functionality to users not using the functionality; and/or (2) prompting users of functionality to suggest use of that functionality to users not using the functionality. The functionality recommendation system may also include a recommendation listing module that organizes suggestions, a recommendation output module that outputs suggestions, and/or a functionality tutorial module that outputs information regarding suggested functionality, for example.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for improved identification of significant images using visual tracking. Certain embodiments of the system include a visual tracking system capable of tracking a user gaze with respect to a display device and a significant image selector for identifying at least one significant image based on user viewing time. The visual tracking system identifies an image at which a user is gazing records a viewing time during which the user is looking at the image. In an embodiment, the visual tracking system records viewing times for one or more users. In an embodiment, meta-data is associated with one or more significant images to identify the images as significant images, for example. The system may further include a database or table storing significant image information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel technique designed to provide a front-end graphical user interface for voice interaction, displaying a list of voice commands that can be used within a control scope of a medical system and that change depending on where the user is in the system. The user is presented with a quick reference guide to available commands without being overwhelmed. “Contextual voice cues” (CVC) provide a non-intrusive dynamic list of available commands to the user which automatically pop-up and change depending on the screen or mode the user is in. An indicator, such as a feedback light, may show whether a voice command is accepted. The technique may be utilized with medical information and diagnostic systems such as picture archival communication systems (PACS), ultrasound modalities, and so forth. Implementation of the technique should increase clinician adoption rates of voice recognition control and thus advance improvements in clinician workflow.

Abstract: A technique is provided for obfuscating or masking indicia viewable in a reconstructed image. Image data is acquired and stored and then accessed and the reconstructed image is analyzed to determine whether any indicia are viewable in the image that are in need of masking. Such indicia may include, for example, patient-identifying data. Other information may be left unmasked, such as orientation information, descriptive information, dates, and so forth. The technique permits automated recognition of indicia and altering of image data files so as to render certain sensitive information undecipherable in the processed reconstructed images.