As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, it’s become crucial for healthcare providers and hospitals to become more flexible and adaptable. Advancements in payment and technology are transforming how treatment is delivered. Now, there’s a greater on emphasis on increasing the speed at which healthcare services are delivered while still maintaining a high quality of care.
For radiography, this means delivering diagnostic imaging results faster and increasing patient throughput. This scenario has led to the emergence of digital x-ray systems, which are helping increase operational efficiency throughout healthcare facilities.
Over the course of this blog post, we’ll discuss why digital x-ray systems have become a must-have for healthcare providers today.
Greater Workflow Efficiency
The primary advantage afforded by digital x-ray systems is greater workflow efficiency. Unlike computed and analog DR systems, which involve the development of a plate/film, a digital x-ray system is able to display images immediately after capture. Furthermore, the pictures can also be transmitted immediately through a computerized data storage silo such as PACS. This streamlines operations throughout a healthcare facility, allowing medical professionals to provide diagnosis and treatment faster.
Less Exposure to Radiation
Digital x-ray systems also address the concern over high radiation doses associated with conventional radiography systems. With analog and computed radiography system, the radiation dose needs to be kept high in order to achieve images of the adequate quality. However, it’s a different story with digital x-ray systems. Processing software that is inherent to digital x-ray systems can enhance the quality of the image after it’s acquired. This allows technologists to reduce the radiation dose significantly.
Digital X-Ray Systems Afford Greater Maneuverability
Another drawback of legacy x-ray systems is that they’re generally confined to a fixed position. This creates an issue when it comes to imaging non-ambulatory patients who’re not in a condition to make the trip down to the radiology room.
Patients that are critically injured or ill are often found in emergency departments, intensive care units and operating rooms. These are extremely busy, high traffic areas that are proliferated with personnel and equipment. This generally creates a confined environment that hinders mobility. In such situations, a mobile digital x-ray system offers great maneuverability, allowing technologists to go directly to the bedside to image patients.
If you’re looking for digital imaging solutions for urgent care, get in touch with ExamVue. They offer state-of-the digital medical imaging equipment, as well as advanced software solutions including ExamVue DR Acquisition and ExamVue PACS.
