Accreditation maintenance through remote site monitoring

• US 20020188652A1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Goldhaber, Leon Kaufman, Mikhail Mineyev
• Original Assignee: David Goldhaber, Leon Kaufman, Mikhail Mineyev
• Inventors: Kaufman, Leon, Goldhaber, David, Mineyev, Mikhail
• Granted Patent: US 7,072,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems for remotely monitoring an imaging facility'"'"'s compliance with accreditation requirements. In a particular embodiment, the present invention remotely monitors the status of an MRI facility. In some configurations, the MRI unit is coupled to a server station. Information from the MRI unit is transmitted and stored on the server station. The information can be transmitted over a network, such as the internet, to a remote server. The remote server can collect and evaluate the accreditation data.

Claims

1. A method of collecting accreditation information from an imaging facility, the method comprising:

transmitting accreditation information from the imaging facility over a network to a remote server; and

collating the accreditation information received from the imaging facility on the remote server.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing the accreditation information from the imaging facility.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting an analysis of the accreditation information over the network to the imaging facility.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein analyzing comprises monitoring the imaging facility'"'"'s compliance with accreditation standards.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging facility comprises an imaging unit and a computer server station, the method further comprising sending images from the imaging unit to the computer server station.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein transmitting comprises running software in a memory in the computer server station.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging facility comprises an MRI device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging facility comprises an x-ray device, a nuclear medicine device, or a CT device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises at least one of images, image reports, central resonant frequency, kilovoltage, scattered radiation, signal-to-noise ratio, and artifact assessment.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging facility comprises an imaging unit and a computer server station.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting comprises querying the computer server station to transit data to the remote server.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the computer server station is programmed to automatically transmit data to the remote server at a preset interval.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending data from the remote server over the network to the imaging facility.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein sending data comprises alerting personnel of the remote facility of at least one of preventive maintenance visits and continuing education courses of facility personnel.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is the internet.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting comprises automatically delivering information to the remote server at a predetermined interval.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined interval is daily.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined interval is monthly.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined interval is six months.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising accessing a web page over the network to deliver additional data to the remote server.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the information to check at least one of image quality and protocol.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising encrypting the information prior to transmitting the information over the network.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising preparing an accreditation submission.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising preparing for an accreditation audit.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein preparing comprising analyzing procedures at the imaging facility.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising analyzing the information on the central server and reporting the analysis of the information over the network to the server station.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein reporting is carried out at regular intervals.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the regular interval comprises daily, weekly, monthly, bi-annually, or annually.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising manually inputting data onto a worksheet in the server station.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising accessing a web page dedicated to the remote MRI unit and manually inputting data.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the information comprises image quality information.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein the network is the internet.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the network is the internet.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein acquiring comprises monitoring image quality, protocol, or phantom imaging.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising a plurality of other imaging units to the server station.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising delivering reminders to the facility over the network.

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising compiling an accreditation report and transmitting the accreditation report to the server station over the network.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein acquiring and transmitting occurs on a fixed schedule.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising inputting data regarding preventive maintenance visits, or continuing education credits for personnel, or policies and procedures.

26. A method for remotely monitoring an MRI unit for compliance with American College of Radiology recommendations and requirements, the method comprising:

acquiring information with the MRI unit;

saving the information on a server station;

transmitting the information from the server station over a network to a central server; and

saving the information on the central server.

34. A method for monitoring an imaging facility from a remote location, the method comprising:

acquiring imaging information with an imaging unit;

transmitting the imaging information to a server station;

sending the imaging information from the server station over a network to a remote server;

saving the information on the remote server; and

determining if the information from the imaging unit is in compliance with accreditation requirements.

42. A method of monitoring accreditation status of an imaging facility, the method comprising:

collecting accreditation information at the imaging facility; and

uploading the accreditation information to an accreditation agency over a communication network.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising transmitting the accreditation information to a central server over the network.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein transmitting and uploading are performed concurrently.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising encrypting the accreditation information.

46. The method of claim 42 comprising preparing an accreditation submission package prior to uploading.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising analyzing the information on the central server and reporting the analysis of the information over the network to the server station.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein reporting is carried out at regular intervals.

47. A method for remotely monitoring an CT unit for compliance with accreditation recommendations and requirements, the method comprising:

acquiring information with the CT unit;

saving the information on a server station;

transmitting the information from the server station over a network to a central server; and

saving the information on the central server.