DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is the global standard format for storing and transmitting medical images. DICOM groups essential data—such as patient ID and date of birth and much more—and embeds that information into the file. This guarantees the image and its associated data are never separated and provides the viewer with a great deal of context of the images. 

In medical imaging, a study refers to a collection of images and their embedded information that has been recorded during a scan. Studies are an essential diagnostic tool that enable healthcare professionals to gain a complete understanding of a condition.

While JPEG and DICOM can both be utilized to illustrate a medical issue, DICOM files offer enhanced visual and informational diagnostic components. JPEG files are the equivalent of pictures offering a single frame of visual data. They are often chosen due to their smaller size, sometimes achieved through irreversible compression that leads to data loss and reduced image quality. In contrast, DICOM images generally retain all original data and quality, plus metadata that adds the context of where and how the images were generated While a standard image viewer or web browser can open JPEG images, DICOM files require a specialized viewer.

Yes, generally an attorney who gains confidential access to a patient’s medical condition is deemed to be subject to HIPAA. Typically, an attorney with such access will be deemed to be a Business Associate, and is responsible for maintaining security and confidentiality of the Protected Health Information (PHI) they receive. As a Business Associate, they are responsible for HIPAA compliance. A Business Associate is responsible for ensuring the confidentiality and safekeeping of client medical records, conducting regular HIPAA training for staff, and establishing Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with any third-party vendors or consultants to whom they entrust PHI. 

To determine if your systems are HIPAA compliant, you’ll need to complete a risk assessment to identify any opportunities where patient health information (PHI) could be exposed. In order to make sure your systems are HIPAA compliant, strong security measures like encrypting stored or shared data, restricted access, and clear rules for how this PHI is handled must be implemented. This generally requires appropriate implementation and usage of PHI.

Yes, you can share studies with someone who doesn’t have a license. The recipient may view the studies with the embedded web viewer, without obtaining their own license. This makes it easy to share information with expert witnesses, colleagues, co-counsel, or others. 

No, Purview’s cloud-based web viewer, enables you to access and view studies from any computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Providers may electronically send studies to your designated cloud address without having to burn a CD, using Purview Image’s™ untethered uploader or via a DICOM send over a secure connection. 

Studies may be shared electronically via a secure link right within the list of studies on your computer screen. An email is generated that provides the expert witness with a secure link from which they may access the images on their own computer (tablet or smart phone). They will need to know the patient’s name and DOB in order to unlock the link. Security parameters, such as setting a date when the link expires or whether the expert may download the image to their own device may be selected prior to sharing the study. 

No, you can simply share a link with your expert witnesses to give them access to our web viewer, which works on any device with internet access.

If your expert witness prefers to use their own desktop viewer, studies can easily be downloaded from the cloud (assuming you have granted that permission) to any desktop viewer (including Horos). 

Studies may be shared to multiple recipients using a single command.

Yes, sharing studies during negotiations with detailed graphics of injuries or disease progression is essential for discovery and trial. Simultaneous viewing of images or displaying images on live screens is a core function of the Purview Image platform. 

To use medical imaging as evidence in court, you’ll need to make sure the images are directly related to the case and authenticate them through expert testimony and preserved DICOM metadata. You can handle any hearsay objections using exceptions like business records or statements made for treatment. Always maintain the integrity of the images by avoiding alterations or lossy compression, and present them clearly to the jury using expert explanations and visual aids. Lastly, be prepared to defend against objections by demonstrating the reliability and admissibility of both the images and any advanced imaging techniques used.

By utilizing Purview’s tagging system, you can group your studies by case or matter number without changing the DICOM or compromising their use as evidence. Tagging studies by case matter number, client name, or any other relevant system may be done upon upload. Studies may then be filtered or sorted to enable easy access to the entire case. 

Purview Image is priced to be affordable by any size practice. Current prices may be found online here. All of our plans include benefits such as the ability to work from any operating system or device, 24/7 tech support for you, your clients, and your expert witnesses, and more.