VisualDx will debut a new version of its clinical decision support system at HIMSS16. The company is growing its image- and graphics-oriented software from supporting skin, eye and oral care decision-making to include more chief medical complaints.

“Our product currently is used for things like a rash diagnosis that cannot typically be diagnosed by a family doctor or emergency room doctor,” said VisualDx CEO Art Papier, MD. “But in March, clinicians will be able to start with things like internal and neurological complaints. VisualDx is laser-focused on misdiagnosis in healthcare.”

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Misdiagnosis indeed is a problem. A wide variety of clinical and autopsy studies identify major diagnostic discrepancies in 10–20 percent of all cases. And in September 2015, the Institute of Medicine released a report stating that virtually every U.S. citizen will experience a diagnostic error in their lifetime. Among the report’s recommendations: “Ensure that health information technologies support patients and healthcare professionals in the diagnostic process.”

“VisualDx is a technology used at the point of care to improve diagnosis,” said Papier, who added that the system today is widely used by emergency physicians, hospitalists and primary care physicians at 1,500 hospitals and large clinics in the U.S. and overseas. The software can be integrated into an electronic health records system and used on mobile devices through an app designed for Apple iOS or Android.

VisualDx has launched its new flagship product at the Veterans Administration, a client for the last five years, and tested it with a group of clinicians worldwide.

The decision support system presents information visually, making it easier for busy caregivers to scan through a vast amount of information and digest what they need to know, Papier said.

“We use what we call sympticons – symptoms plus icons – to make it easy for a busy practitioner to understand the key differences between each disease,” Papier said.

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The VisualDx system sells for $399 per user, with a volume discount. The company said the return on investment comes with “speed to answer” and risk reduction.

“Clinicians have very little time, and we bring speed to answer for diagnoses, so clinicians can get to the best tests and the proper treatment, using VisualDx as a go-to platform to answer the fundamental question of differential diagnosis, and do so with speed,” Papier said. “The system brings a degree of safety to healthcare organizations and patients."

VisualDx will be demonstrating the new system Cerner’s HIMSS16 exhibit hall space, booth 2032.

Twitter: @SiwickiHealthIT