Re: Warning of major NHS IT overspend

[Adrian Midgley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>]

On Tuesday 02 November 2004 14:37, Brian Beesley wrote:

> Because it may have advantages in some circumstances - superior resolution,
> more latitude, ...

Longitude 
-------------
is also a factor, IE the current preoccupation is to make medical records 
available at all points of care, and that includes images.

At present it is distinctly inconvenient for me to see an image I have 
requested, therefore I usually manage with the report on it.

I would prefer to see the image.
Scanning films in for this purpose is not sensible, but moving to digital 
imaging makes sense within the hospital and with GPs in the area, which 
covers a few minutes of both lat and long.

> Because it's easier to train a physician to use a light box than to use a
> computer?
We tend to "or" the pixels by putting one film over another over the light.  
Or is it "and" since there are a lot of grey shades available".
(Actually, since I have a sufficiency of computer screens but no light box, i 
tend to hold them up to the window or light, this will be similar to most 
GPs.)

Since the geometry can change a bit, standardising the image to allow that 
overlay to be accurate would presumably be useful.

The question of how compression and encryption techniques influence the 
storage and transmission of images and their comparison, possibly with 
programmatic assistance, occurs to me and presumably might influence the 
design of the NHS Network carrying such things.  I think it may be a trivial 
question though.


-- 
Adrian Midgley                   Open Source software is better
GP, Exeter                       http://www.defoam.net/