Diagnostic imaging is a vital tool for detecting and treating various health conditions, from neurological disorders to cardiovascular diseases, yet many Canadians face long wait times for accessing these services which can delay diagnosis and treatment, adversely affecting health outcomes. A 2022 Fraser Institute report shows Canadians can expect to wait five and a half weeks for a CT scan, just over 10 weeks for an MRI and nearly 5 weeks for an ultrasound. Wait times for diagnostic mammograms are also raising alarms from patients and doctors across Canada. These wait times vary by province and territory and by the urgency of the referral. And if you live in a rural community, the wait time to receive critical imaging is exacerbated.
Canada’s national shortage of healthcare providers like radiologists, MRTs and sonographers add even greater barriers to individuals seeking timely care. And for those living in rural communities, reaching medical facilities can often mean traveling long distances.
Moreover, the lack of access to advanced medical technologies and diagnostic tools hampers the ability to diagnose and treat conditions promptly and accurately. Network capabilities, internet speeds and user access also restrict access to diagnostic imaging for patients living outside big cities. This can result in delayed or missed diagnoses, where sometimes every minute counts.
These challenges underscore the pressing need for technology tools that can help healthcare organizations across Canada. Fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to create these innovative solutions.
RamSoft is a Canadian healthcare software company committed to providing faster and empowered care to patients by connecting doctors, practices, and systems through their innovative imaging solutions. Organizations across the Americas including in the U.S. and Latin America, are using RamSoft’s imaging software in their operations to revolutionize healthcare.
RamSoft technology is deployed in radiology clinics around the world including Guardian Radiology in Canada, a community-based radiology provider with 17 locations throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan that offers onsite and teleradiology services, to remove unnecessary commutes and reduce wait times for tests like mammograms and more.
For Dr. Casey Young, a radiologist at Guardian Radiology, making imaging more accessible for rural and remote care has been one of his biggest priorities. Over the last decade, Dr. Young has dedicated his practice to teleradiology and expanding teleradiology services for rural communities. Teleradiology has many advantages such as increasing access to specialists and specialized care in remote areas, reducing wait times, costs and improving patient outcomes. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) and the cloud are helping.
Since 2021, Dr. Young has been leveraging advanced technology including RamSoft’s innovative suite of cloud-based software platforms like PowerServer™ to address current challenges with diagnostic imaging. Powered by Microsoft’s AzureOpen AI Service, RamSoft’s PowerServer offers a flexible, reliable, and secure platform, leveraging cloud-based RIS (Radiology Information System) and PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) capabilities to help with patient scheduling, radiologist interpretation and mammography tracking.
“With teleradiology, healthcare providers can expedite treatment plans, improve access to specialized services and ultimately achieve better outcomes for patients with rapid access to diagnostic imaging,” said Dr. Young, explaining why Canadians need broader access.
PowerServer also allows healthcare teams to access historical imaging for enhanced treatment plans and to paint a more comprehensive picture of changes in a patient’s health. The seamless software solution and available support provided by the RamSoft team, enables radiologists to focus on their immediate goals at hand, making sure patient-facing time and, ultimately, access to care is maximized.
“RamSoft’s suite of services and support personnel have played a valuable role in solving common imaging roadblocks and have allowed us to successfully implement teleradiology solutions to many remote communities.”
Further feedback from radiologists across North America reinforce the benefits of leveraging cloud and AI to transform diagnostic imaging and deliver higher quality care to patients near and far. For example, Dr. Bernard “Bud” A. Landry, medical director at ProScan Imaging in New Orleans, Louisiana shares how RamSoft’s cloud native software, promotes accessibility to patient information while maintaining security, streamlines administration and makes what he and his colleagues do better to deliver the best patient care possible.
Ozlem Stidham, business development manager at Premier MRI Clinics in Tempe, Arizona, believes RamSoft’s OmegaAI has completely transformed their radiology clinic. Changing how they manage their radiology reading workflows through automation and increasing efficiency.
Diagnostic imaging faces many challenges in today’s healthcare landscape, but the provision of AI and cloud offers hope. “We are enthusiastic and optimistic many of these technologies will not only change the way we think about healthcare delivery, but ultimately lead to better outcomes for our patients,” Dr. Young said. To learn more about how technology can improve healthcare, visit Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare.
