FORUM Provides Data Collection Solution at Eye Institute
Dr Nick Mantell has invested in a state-of-the-art data management solution for his practice and patients at Eye Institute.
With FORUM, all clinically relevant ophthalmic images and data which are created during diagnosis, treatment and even surgery video, can be centrally archived and viewed on different workstations, as well as remotely. With Dr Mantell working from Eye Institute Remuera, North Shore and now at the new South Auckland clinic, FORUM will provide not only an efficient workflow in his clinics but also help to ensure that patient information is consistent.
FORUM, said Dr Mantell, is the answer to today’s increasingly daunting task of managing the growing amounts of clinical data collected.
“The way we are practising is changing rapidly. In particular our ability to use technology to help with the early detection and monitoring of pathology has increased exponentially. With this development it has become more important to store the information technology is providing. With FORUM we can do this in an efficient way that enables us to also communicate better with patients and optometrists. I think this type of data management is essential for providing best care in a modern ophthalmic practice,” he said.
FORUM is more than a software package - it’s a workflow solution. It has been built on feedback from clinicians who are looking for ways to become more effective in terms of monitoring diagnosis over time.
Cameron Hawke, business manager for Carl Zeiss Australasia, information management solutions, said FORUM is foremost an archive system that has been designed to contain raw data and reports. All diagnostic data is not only safely backed up to a network but also available for immediate review.
FORUM also enhances communication and patient education by digitally integrating all of a practice’s diagnostic instruments, regardless of brand, for a complete, centralised, paperless record of all relevant clinical data - a record that compliments most recent Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems and is instantaneously available to review in the office and offsite, and also compare previous images with new ones.
Any new equipment added to the network can also be added to the system remotely. Mr Hawke said the size of the server depends upon the amount of imaging performed in a practice. A high volume clinic would require about 100GB a year. The OCT is the most data-intensive device however Carl Zeiss has placed a special compression on these images whereby the maximum size of each image is 7MB compared to the raw file size of 70MB, significantly reducing data storage requirements plus enabling faster review due to less network traffic arising from smaller file sizes.
“Another feature of FORUM is that it takes the patient’s details that are held in your EMR system and sends that information via a daily worklist to each of the instruments, removing any keying-in errors plus any mishandling of data when storing the resulting diagnostic results. FORUM offers a fully integrated system; providing a faster workflow saving time and reduced printing requirements, saving money in the long term.
“We have already successfully built the link with Houston VIP. net and Optomate Premier and look forward to other vendors integrating FORUM into their EMR system. The FORUM workflow and design will revolutionise the way image management is handled. The installation at Eye Institute demonstrates the flexibility of Forum provides data collection solution at Eye Institute FORUM enabling the simple linking of multiple instruments and multiple sites with your existing EMR,” he said.
Carl Zeiss provide comprehensive training to all clinicians and staff implementing FORUM in their practice.
“Moving forward we’ll also be connecting the surgery centre to the practice, so all the data related to a patient will be available in an electronic form in the theatre for review and possible re-analysis, for example IOLMaster recalculation due to changed lens design. Information from surgery can additionally be transferred back to the office like intra-operative videos or images,” said Mr Hawke.
Dr Mantell intends using an iPad to access FORUM data anywhere, anytime. He will also use it to explain diagnosis to a patient.
“The iPad is a nice interface that can be used with patients where you bring up their images on the screen and you hand it to them, so it becomes a more personal experience for them. Images, of course, can be enlarged and moved around so they can view them more easily. I think this has advantages over using the computer monitor on your desk,” he said.
As with any software development, Carl Zeiss will be adding new features and core functionalities. A recent addition has been the integration of structural and functional information for the Cirrus HD-OCT and Humphrey Field Analyser into a ‘Combined Glaucoma Report’ for more efficient glaucoma assessment at a glance, an extremely useful report to send back to the referring clinician. Dr Mantell intends to utilise this report plus other images and reports from FORUM as a platform of communication with referrers.
“There are other systems that offer the capability to store images. FORUM however is future proofed in that it stores all the available data from each examination, which will make it available for analysis with all future applications. Zeiss have been leaders in developing innovative tools to help with early diagnosis of disease. They have shown an ongoing commitment to this and FORUM will be the platform for integrating this. It’s also evolving and I am excited about integrating it into my practice.”
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