The new contract provides for continued expansion of the network. Over the next four years, the network plans to add 40 additional sites, using a computer system called the Edge Server that was developed under the pilot project to connect their local radiology systems to the network.

The entire Philadelphia metropolitan area will be one focus of expansion, as will the Central Alabama Health Information Exchange. In addition, vendors of radiology systems have expressed a strong interest in bringing their client sites into the network, which could rapidly increase the number of participating sites and patients, officials said.

The new contract also provides for expanding the cases addressed by the Image Share network. In addition to the patient-controlled model, the network will be made capable of supporting provider-to-provider exchange of information with patient consent, so that participating sites can use it for consult or emergency cases.

The capabilities of the network will also be expanded to support exchange of images for multi-site imaging research. The contract funds will be used to improve the efficiency of image exchange by using streaming technologies and promoting refinements to standards for medical imaging data, RSNA officials said.

The new contract also provides funding for pilot projects that make use of the data gathered by Edge Servers at the participating sites for decision support, effectiveness research and other data mining applications.

RSNA Image Share is based upon the XDS profile of Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE), an initiative among medical leaders, software developers, medical societies and vendors to improve communication among healthcare equipment, systems and software. The goal is to move closer to a universal electronic health record and help physicians meet federal meaningful use requirements in practice

[See also: Long, winding road for IHE.]