April 19, 2018
TriHealth announced the Cincinnati based health system will invest $10 million dollars to adopt a significant portion of IBM Watson Health’s Enterprise Imaging Portfolio. The investment allows TriHealth to update its picture archiving and communication system (PACS) infrastructure with plans to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and applications for medical imaging.
TriHealth’s enterprise imaging strategy will augment radiologists’ image reading workflow by creating an architecture for the storage and management of image data that can easily scale and connect with the health system’s electronic health record. The Watson Health architecture is expected to allow TriHealth clinicians timely access to medical images that are critical to their care decisions.
TriHealth will also be the first health system in the state of Ohio to adopt IBM Watson Imaging Clinical Review. Watson Imaging Clinical Review is a retrospective cognitive data review tool that analyzes EMR data to help support a reliable patient record in order to drive accurate, timely and coordinated care decisions. Watson Imaging Clinical Review is targeted to go live throughout the entire TriHealth system in early 2019.
“Our collaboration with IBM Watson Health allows us to provide the most advanced technology to our clinicians when providing care for our patients,” said TriHealth President and CEO Mark C. Clement. “This investment will further distinguish the TriHealth Imaging Division as providing best-in-class service, technology and diagnostic expertise to our patients and the communities we serve."
“We are excited to establish this valuable collaboration with IBM Watson Health for our enterprise imaging project,” said Frank Schlueter, MD, System Chief of Radiology for TriHealth. “I believe this advanced imaging technology will significantly improve the workflow of radiology and other image intensive specialties, enhancing our physicians’ ability to diagnose and treat patients.”
Watson Health Imaging is a market leader in providing a comprehensive portfolio designed to allow for easier image sharing across hospitals, devices and specialties. TriHealth clinicians and physicians will have easier and more efficient access for image retrieval. Radiologists will have improved tools to allow for efficiencies with reads.
“Our goal is to provide our physicians with a tool that delivers data and insight that helps optimize efficiency and quality in the care they deliver to patients,” said John Ward, TriHealth’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Information Officer. “After thoroughly reviewing a number of technologies, we chose Watson Health Imaging because of its advanced technology and architecture designed for the future of imaging, including the onset of Artificial Intelligence in the industry.”