eRAD Pulse – Issue No. 1, July 2022

Where can I find the latest eRAD software releases and information about them?

We are excited about our Self-Service Portal for support, simply because we know how much it’s going to help you. Now you can create and track cases and easily upload screen shots—all with the aim of making it easier for you to collaborate with us.

Reach out to Jeremy Morse, Customer Solutions Manager, at [email protected] if you’re an Admin for your site and would like an introduction to the Self-Service Portal. Here’s a peek at what you can do:

View your open cases.

Create a new case.

We don’t want you to miss any feature that can make your work more seamless and efficient. Take a look at these tips to make sure you’re using your system to its fullest capacity.

1. Help Section
A new Help section in RIS is available (depending on the version you use).

2. Rescheduling
Users can re-schedule an appointment from the Appointment Book (depending on the version used).

3. Print to RIS
The administrator can install the eRAD RIS Print driver on a user’s PC. The user can then print directly into a patient’s attachment folder. This saves time and clicks, eliminating the need to save and then upload.

1. Quick Access to Help
A Help button has been added so that users can easily access information on how to use the system.

2. User-defined fields
Users can create their own data element. That element can be added to a worklist, which makes it available as a filter criteria or as a way to generate a follow-up action. User-defined fields can be set with specific data or work as free-form fields.

In this example, “User4” was edited to be called “COVID” and set as a drop-down of specific values.

3. Calculated fields
Calculated fields are virtual fields available for display on a (worklist) table, for use as filter criteria, and for use on XML templates including reports. The values are the result of operations performed on one or more actual database fields. For example, the turnaround time for a study can be calculated as the difference between the report date and the study date, and then used to set up a notification when it exceeds some defined period of time. Creating calculated fields requires administrator permissions.

Are you thinking about adding Tomosynthesis to your mammography service offering? Tomosynthesis (3D mammography) has revolutionized breast imaging. If 3D is on the horizon as a service offering for your patients—or if you’ve already added it to your practice—then we want to make sure your system is ready for this modality. We optimize eRAD PACS so it can easily handle large 3D file sizes, even high-definition tomosynthesis studies.

Reach out to us to make sure your eRAD PACS is 3D-ready. Call eRAD at (866) 414-3723 or email us at [email protected].

Hundreds of eRAD customers rely on the eRAD Data Center to host their RIS and/or PACS. They make that choice to keep their data secure and to lower their I.T. overhead costs. Curious about cloud-hosting? Here’s an overview of the features and redundancy we offer.

This is how we manage your concerns and let you sleep at night. You can rest assured knowing that your data is safe, secure, and available with eRAD.

CMS Issues Additional Guidance for Low-Dose CT for Lung Cancer Screening
On February 10, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued national coverage determination (NCD) that expanded Medicare coverage of low-dose CT (LDCT) for lung cancer screening by lowering the eligibility age from 55 to 50 years and reducing the smoking history from 30 packs per year to 20 packs per year. The NCD also simplified the eligibility requirements for the interpreting radiologist and the radiology facility (including removing the requirement that facilities participate in a registry). In new guidance issued on April 29, CMS provides instructions on coding LDCT exams and claims processing.

COVID-19 PHE Expected to Remain in Place Past July 15
The 60 days’ notice prior to ending the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), promised by Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, has passed—leaving open the possibility that the PHE will be extended beyond the current July 15 deadline. On April 16, 2022, Secretary Becerra extended the COVID-19 PHE for an additional 90 days through July 15. However, with that extension, he pledged to give states and other stakeholders 60 days’ notice if the PHE was going to expire. For the July 15 deadline, notice would have been required on or before May 16. No such notice has been provided. The PHE leaves in place many of the Medicare flexibilities intended to deal with the pandemic. The COVID-19 PHE has been in effect since January 2020.

ACR Provides Guidance for Coping with Contrast Shortage
The ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media issued a statement on how providers can address the shortage of iodinated contrast media. The shortage stems from a shutdown of GE’s contrast plant in Shanghai, China, following a general lockdown on March 31, 2022, triggered by a spike in COVID cases. GE has since re-opened the Shanghai plant and is bringing in additional supply from its facility in Ireland. Despite these measures, shortage is expected to last well into June.

For now, yes, you are meeting these members of the eRAD family through your computer screen. But someday your paths may cross in person! In this section, we introduce you to new customers in the eRAD fold, as well as a member of our team. Here’s to our virtual handshake!

Say hello and welcome to our new customers:

Middle Village Radiology
Rego Park, NY

Bay Radiology
Severna Park, MD

Open System Imaging
Palm Desert, CA

Reveal Imaging of PA
Oaks, PA

CSC Team Member Introduction: Jeremy Morse

Jeremy Morse is eRAD’s Customer Solutions Center Manager, and he helps guide customers toward solutions for any issue. He has been on the eRAD team for five years and has spent his entire tenure working with the CSC team. He took over management of the team in 2019. Jeremy enjoys both video games and tabletop games, but spends most of his time focused on his wife and two children. Jeremy’s favorite aspect of working at eRAD is the sense of team cohesion and camaraderie that has built up over time.

Feel free to say hello to Jeremy! [email protected]

The eRAD Team will be at the following events in the coming months. Be sure to stop by to meet us and get any questions answered.

You missed us at these conferences, but there is always next year!