Medical Imaging Northwest Selects Algotec

Algotec, the innovative PACS and radiology image management company, has been selected by Medical Imaging Northwest, a 17-radiologist practice in the Tacoma, WA-area, to provide an advanced digital image communications system linking its main clinic with four remote locations. Algotec distributor V-Rad was responsible for the sale.

“Our practice reads studies for three hospitals and another two independent clinics,” explains Dr. Martin Graham of Medical Imaging Northwest. “We needed a system to make images available quickly and accurately over the Internet for reading by our staff at all locations.” After considering a wide range of vendors, the practice selected Algotec because of its functionality, flexibility, open architecture and willingness to customize the installation to meet client needs.

“We went on a number of site visits and felt that by far Algotec offered the most mature Web-based product with a proven track record in a wide range of settings,” says Graham.
Medical Imaging Northwest uses Algotec’s MediSurf Web server to send images over existing Internet connections to remote reading sites. Images arrive on the physician’s desktop within seconds, significantly boosting workflow. MediSurf also allows physicians, wherever they are located, to access studies using a single DICOM worklist. This enables multiple radiologists to efficiently share workload. MediSurf also provides short-term image storage on the server at the practice’s main location.

When reading at the main clinic, radiologists use Algotec’s MediPrime 3D radiology reading station. MediPrime automates sophisticated functions such as multi-planar reformatted views of CT studies and instantaneous displays of MR and CT angiography in maximum intensity projection (MIP) mode. It also includes a full range of customizable display protocols.
Algotec’s CD Surf saves images to CDs for referring physicians as an alternative to film. While Medical Imaging Northwest has had a PACS for internal image management since 2000, the system lacks Web-based remote reading capabilities, which would have necessitated installation of extensive proprietary connections to enable communication outside the main clinic.

“With its open architecture and ability to customize its systems, Algotec was able to interface with our existing PACS to allow us access to stored images from any location as well as the ability to copy these images to CDs,” said Graham. “This represents a major step up in function with little additional investment. We clearly see the advantages of a new state-of-the-art PACS compared to our current legacy system. With all its advanced features, we certainly will take a hard look at Algotec when ready to upgrade our existing PACS because it will take us where we need to go.

About Algotec
Based in Duluth Ga., Algotec, Inc. has installations in more than 800 healthcare institutions worldwide. Algotec's ImagiNet family of solutions include ProVision, 3D multi-modality processing workstation; MediPrime, radiology reading and reporting station; MediSurf, Web-based image and data access and display engine; MediStore, multi-media, multi-tier archiving system; MediFlow, image management software; MediLink, configurable interface to other hospital information systems such as healthcare information systems (HIS); Med-e-Mail, automatic e-mail reporting system of key images and reports to referring physicians; and CD-Surf, self-playing, soft copy (CD) medium that substitutes for films for patients and referring physicians.
Algotec, Inc. may be reached at 770-291-2022. Or visit their website at www.algotec.com

About V-Rad Systems
V-Rad Systems is a Houston-based company providing consulting services to hospital radiology departments and imaging centers, as well as integrating Algotec’s PACS software with cost-effective off-the-shelf hardware. For more information about V-Rad Systems, call 713-667-6056.