The Purview Blog

There’s nothing wrong with using a solution that works for you. That can be a solution that costs thousands of dollars for an annual subscription or one that comes completely free. We support the medical imaging community to use whatever platform and integrations that bring the most value to their business. However, there is a concern. If you are using a viewer that does not have FDA, CE, or other certifications - you might want to think twice before making a diagnosis.

Having anytime anywhere access to your patient’s medical images can be a life saver. You cannot always have your desktop viewing station with you at all times. It’s physically impossible. If you are on rounds, visiting another facility, or on the go - having the ability to view medical images on a mobile device can save immense time and energy. However, be warned that not all vendors have a solution that is FDA approved that can be viewed on mobile devices. Why not? Glad you asked.

It’s true, mammograms are still the best tool to detect breast cancer. US breast cancer statistics report that in 2018, 1 in 8 women will develop an invasive form of breast cancer. Which all boils down to one scary fact: approximately 40,920 women in the US are “expected” to die from breast cancer in 2018 alone. Mammograms are the first step to taking preventative measures, but it doesn’t stop there. What about how these images are viewed by a radiologist? Not all PACS are created equal. In fact, do you know if you are even viewing high quality breast images on an approved DICOM viewer?

Those who want to use Horos or OsiriX as a medical image viewer are sometimes concerned as to whether the software has been approved by the FDA. While we will get to the answer, the real question is whether or not Horos or OsiriX meet the standards required for your specific use case.

Question: who owns my medical images? Answer: you can look but not touch.

It may amaze you to learn that the X-rays, CT Scans & MRIs of intimate parts of your anatomy are not your property. Pretty shocking, huh? In fact, the imaging center or hospital that took these images owns the title (copyright) to the image itself and the media on which it exists. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that many doctors are reluctant to provide their patients with these images.