Agfa HealthCare has announced that it will demonstrate its new IMPAX Radiation Exposure Monitoring (REM)* solution at the 2012 RSNA meeting in Chicago, USA.
IMPAX REM provides an automated way to collect, organize and analyse a patient's radiation exposure data. The system provides access to the available patient's history of radiation exposure from medical imaging studies, as well as access to the patient's radiation exposure estimates from all points of care. PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) and modality vendor-neutral, it allows healthcare providers to track dose information across multiple modalities, departments and institutions.
IMPAX REM can play an important part in the joint effort to decrease or avoid unnecessary ionising radiation. Using the constant measurements to improve imaging practices and increase awareness, healthcare facilities can ensure their quality of care. Information on radiation exposure levels can support the referring physician in making a better-informed decision, while allowing the radiology department to use best practices and to be conform to regulations.
Medical imaging departments can use IMPAX REM to help them respond to the changing regulatory environment and conform to dose level guidelines (where available). In addition, by providing research quality data, IMPAX REM can support researchers in their effort to further study the impact of radiation exposure levels.
IMPAX REM is an IHE based solution, enabling collaboration with other systems and dose repositories. "With IMPAX REM we are offering a solution that helps to build more awareness about radiation exposure and dose levels" explains Al Dyer, Global Business Manager IIBU, Agfa HealthCare. "IMPAX REM provides a PACS and modality vendor-neutral solution to help healthcare providers and imaging facilities provide the best care for their patients."
IMPAX REM came out of a joint, two-year research collaboration project between Agfa HealthCare, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation; the project was completed in December 2011. NRC's REM advisory panel, consisting of clinical and scientific experts and end users, provided input throughout the project.
IMPAX REM is currently a work in progress, and will first be available in the U.S. and Canada.
