Teleradiology in Orkney

Orkney’s Balfour Hospital has installed a unique imaging solution from Kodak to maintain links with a teaching hospital over 200 miles away in Aberdeen.

The hospital, which previously posted films to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for reporting and review, can now send digitally captured images electronically to the Scottish hospital via the Internet. This latest installation and the proposed replacement of existing ultrasound equipment next year, will mean that all image production at the hospital will now be digital.

Superintendent Radiographer Carol Hartmann says the new equipment will bring a range of benefits to the hospital, which conducts 5000 examinations every year. “Patients will receive reduced radiation dosage and staff will enjoy both a cleaner working environment without chemical fumes and increasing working space over time with the reduction in the volume of filed films.

“Initially images will be electronically accessible to local medical staff at all points in the hospital and we are excited about the potential of being able to make them available to GPs on remote islands in the future.”

According to its manufacturer, the solution is ideal for remote teleradiology in hospitals with a small throughput. The system can process more than 60 plates per hour, offers image review in less than 60 seconds and provides convenient local storage for approximately 1500 images.