Cutting edge: Dr Chee Keong Chan uses the new app to display a medical image on an iPad.
By John Van Klaveren
A MEDICAL app trialled in Geelong will speed up treatment for patients with serious injuries and illnesses, according to developer Lake Imaging.
The Visage Ease app produces high-quality 3D and 4D images for doctors to inspect on iPhones, iPads and iPods.
Lake Imaging partner Craig Lightfoot said the app had completed a successful trial in Geelong.
He expected it to become a standard tool for doctors and specialists throughout Victoria.
Mr Lightfoot said the trial used the technology to streamline urgent treatment for seriously ill or injured patients.
“Early diagnosis and treatment is the Holy Grail when it comes to optimising recovery in many emergencies and illnesses,” he said.
The app enabled doctors to view images stored on a server and pass them on to referring physicians.
“This now happens at the touch of a screen, reducing waiting times to a minimum,” Mr Lightfoot said.
“The Visage solution provides a much faster and higher quality means of communication compared to printed film or patient CDs.”
Mr Lightfoot experienced the system firsthand during the trial when six-year-old daughter Clare broke her arm at home.
The app allowed him to have Clare’s X-ray examined and the fracture treated within four hours.
“Clare may well end up in the history books as one of the first patients in Australia to get the express treatment,” he said.
“The specialist was able to see her X-ray in perfect detail on his iPhone, decide what needed to be done, treat her injury, book the surgery and she was back home four hours after the accident.
“This will make a huge difference to the diagnosis and treatment of patients, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.”
Dr Chee Keong Chan of Gateway Plaza Family Medical Practice said the app allowed him to inspect high-resolution images any time, anywhere.
“With the high resolution display on my iPad, the image quality of X-rays, CT scans and MRIs is impressive and comparable to desktop versions,” Dr Chan said.
“It is also a useful tool in patient education and explaining the results via my iPad”.
