
Digital Imaging Adoption Model
DIAM: A strategic roadmap to digital imaging maturity
In the complex and continuously evolving environment of hospital imaging departments and imaging centres there is a distinct need to deliver medical imaging securely, through the right channel, with the right context, at the right time to the right person. Numerous changes from the move to value-based care and increased use of mobile devices impact the way we use digital imaging.
DIAM allows you to identify and adopt the right digital strategy and improve health outcomes for patients.
DIAM was developed with the support of the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM), the European Society of Radiology (ESR), and the European Society of Medical Imaging Informatics (EUSOMII).
Stages 5-7 are non-hierarchical and can be adopted in any order.
- To reach Stage 7 all three of the Stage 5 through 7 criteria must be met
- To reach Stage 6 two-of-three of the Stage 5 through 7 criteria must be met
- To reach Stage 5 one-of-three of the Stage 5 through 7 criteria must be met
Healthcare Provider Tools
Advisory Services
*STAGES 5-7 ARE NON-HIERARCHICAL AND CAN BE ADOPTED IN ANY ORDER* External image exchange and patient engagement
- For Stages 5-7, these specialised stages can be adopted in any order
- The majority of image producing service areas are exchanging and/or sharing images and reports and/or clinical notes with care organisations of all types, including local, regional or even national health information exchanges based on recognized standards.
- The application(s) used in image producing service areas support multidisciplinary interactive collaboration.
- Patients can make appointments, access reports and images as well as educational content – specific to their individual situation – online.
- Patients may be able to electronically upload, download and direct the sharing of their images.
*STAGES 5-7 ARE NON-HIERARCHICAL AND CAN BE ADOPTED IN ANY ORDER* Clinical decision support and value-based imaging
- For Stages 5-7, these specialised stages can be adopted in any order
- Systems are in place that are capable to provide feedback about the appropriateness to perform an examination, based on patient preconditions, history and approved guidelines.
- Alternative examinations and suggestions for standardised care practices/best-practice guidelines are directly integrated into the electronic workflow.
- Imaging reports/notes are in structured format and/or supported by natural language processing and produce discrete data elements that can trigger alerts and clinical decision support.
- Patient-specific imaging data from at least two image producing services are used and correlated in near-time with evidence-based information sources (commercial or self-developed) to improve health outcomes.
- The organisation participates in regional, national or international registries in order to track patient safety related information for Imaging.
*STAGES 5-7 ARE NON-HIERARCHICAL AND CAN BE ADOPTED IN ANY ORDER* Advanced imaging analytics
*STAGES 5-7 ARE NON-HIERARCHICAL AND CAN BE ADOPTED IN ANY ORDER* Advanced imaging analytics
- For Stages 5-7, these specialised stages can be adopted in any order
- Clinical, organisational, and financial parameters are systematically tracked, benchmarked (internally and externally) and can be presented in real-time through Dashboards, Balanced Scorecards etc.
- The organisation uses internal and external data for making predictions about needed therapies and examinations, follow-up measures etc.
- Genetic information from patients is correlated with imaging biomarkers.
- Technology use is captured and analysed to influence user behaviour.
Fully integrated image management with efficient enterprise-wide image sharing across different service areas
- The organisation makes use of an enterprise-centralized repository where image content is stored.
- Clinical image, multimedia and metadata capture and storage processes are standardised which enable order- and encounter-based image acquisition and sharing workflows across the enterprise.
- Internationally recognised standards, protocols or profiles are used to support system integration and clinical workflows.
- The organisation has the capability to securely acquire and view images via mobile platforms (e.g. mobile ultrasound) and handheld devices (e.g. smartphones).
- Image content, associated reports and clinical notes (DICOM/Non-DICOM; structured and non-structured reports) can be ingested and stored electronically.
- Clinicians may be able to access medical images and reports securely from remote locations.
Imaging governance and strategy; workflow and process safety
- An Enterprise Imaging Strategy exists and is in place, including appropriate governance and oversight.
- Clinical image acquisition and communication workflows are formalized, implemented and designed to support clinicians within their normal care processes.
- Quality, safety and operational parameters across multiple imaging services are measured and under control.
- Imaging specialists can access all types of images/multimedia from a single point of entry that connects them directly to specialty clinical viewers as needed. Clinicians across the enterprise can access images/multimedia through a consolidated viewer for non-diagnostic purposes.
- External referrers can access and view images through the organization’s network/repository.
Electronic image management covering a variety of images across the enterprise
- Images and associated reports/clinical notes, created in at least three image producing service areas or 80% of all medical images/videos produced in the organisation, are accessed via multiple, unique links within the EMR (or similar enterprise-wide user interface when an EMR is not available).
- External images can be imported to the organisation’s image management system for clinician access (if policy allows).
Electronic image management covering the service area(s)
- Key specialised medical imaging information systems are installed for managing image acquisition workflows (orders or encounters based workflows), imaging related reports and/or clinical notes, digital image archiving, in at least two departments/service areas.
- A supply and inventory management system, supporting the maintenance of inventory and consumables within the service area, may also be in place as appropriate, e.g. Radiology/Cardiology.
No or limited electronic image management
- The organisation has not installed key enterprise and/or specialized imaging information systems for imaging acquisition (orders or encounters based workflows), image related reports and/or clinical notes and image archiving electronically, in at least two service areas (image producing departments/units).