Stratus Imaging Share helps improve care coordination and patient access

A large, integrated health care delivery system and academic health care provider in the United States faced significant challenges managing access to the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) for image sharing. The organization struggled with the cumbersome process of setting up thousands of individual accounts to accommodate its:

• 15+ hospitals
• Outpatient care centers, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers
• Home health care services

Relying on physical CDs for image transfer created logistical challenges for several departments, particularly the operating rooms, emergency departments and outpatient clinics. The system needed a central resource to:

• Streamline access for internal and external providers
• Facilitate immediate image importing for the emergency departments
• Integrate with other platforms to enable sharing images with patients

The organization implemented Change Healthcare Stratus Imaging Share, a centralized, cloud-based solution that enables seamless sharing of medical images across the enterprise. The organization maintains the same documentation requirements as with CDs. Access to the system is granted through a central access management process and approved by department managers. By expanding access to a wider range of users beyond specific workstations, the organization estimated the number of users who could share images increased by 10%–20%². They also integrated Stratus Imaging Share with Epic MyChart, providing patients with direct access to their medical images via a link with their report for radiology, cardiology, OBGYN/MFM, vascular and POCUS.

Through Epic MyChart patient portal integration, Stratus Imaging Share allows patients to easily view their medical images online. In a 6-month period, approximately 29,680 patients have viewed over 46,133 of their own studies.¹ The image is hyperlinked when sent to MyChart, launching directly into the Stratus Imaging Share viewer. Patients and recipients find it much more convenient than using CDs or having to install additional software. It runs smoothly within the browser, which is an advantage, and is easily viewed.

In addition to improving patient access to their own images, Stratus Imaging Share has significantly improved patient care efficiency. The organization had not previously shared images with a major pediatric hospital, but when they received a call from the hospital regarding a critically ill 6-month-old baby with an appointment scheduled for the next day, they quickly sprang into action. Despite the CD not being available, the organization promptly collaborated with the hospital using Stratus Imaging Share. They successfully shared approximately 40² studies, which allowed the patient to be seen the following day as scheduled.

This experience proved immensely beneficial, leading to a streamlined sharing process with the pediatric hospital. The application analyst expressed a commitment to exceptional patient care, stating that they have continued to share numerous other studies with the hospital, further strengthening their collaboration.

In another instance, studies were transmitted to a major cancer center on behalf of a department chair. Unfortunately, the CDs sent to the facility could not be opened. However, the images were successfully shared with Stratus Imaging Share. The department chair highlighted the positive impact of this technology on the patient’s experience, noting that the Stratus Imaging Share application allowed the images to be shared out to the patient on the same day and greatly improved the patient’s experience, and of all involved. The patient was still able to attend their appointment without having to reschedule. 

Seamless sharing capabilities and close collaboration with each facility helped ensure that they were able to access and open the studies without any difficulties. This streamlined approach has proven highly effective, facilitating smooth collaboration among health care providers.