FDA clears IDX image management system

The Food and Drug Administration has given the regulatory greenlight to IDX Systems for its IDXview image management product.IDXview represents the Burlington, VT, company's effort to expandfrom its base in radiology information systems into digital imagemanagement, according to Britt Cummings, manager of radiologysystems.

IDXview is based on Digital Equipment Alpha workstation architecturerunning an X-Windows operating system with 1k x 1k display monitors.It is DICOM-compliant and can be integrated with the company'sIDXrad RIS product, making it one of the first commercially availableintegrated RIS/image management solutions.

IDXview is not a PACS product, Cummings said, because it lacksthe 2k x 2k monitor technology required for primary diagnosis.Instead, IDX will market the system as ideal for consultationand review between radiology departments and referring physiciansin other areas. A primary diagnosis component can be added vialinks to PACS products from other vendors, he said.

IDX will emphasize the integrated nature of the RIS and imagemanagement system in marketing IDXview. IDXrad has a sophisticatedsearch engine that makes it easy for physicians to locate andsort patient data, according to Cummings.

"Because we are so tied to the RIS, we have some verysimple and efficient searches to find the patient (physicians)are looking for," Cummings said.

There are two beta sites using IDXview and the company is readyto begin shipping the product.