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Research and Markets has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "Advances in Teleimaging Systems (Technical Insights)" to their offering.

Advances in the Imaging and Communications Space Enable the Rollout of Optimized Teleimaging Solutions.

Although the synchronous teleimaging systems segment is a part of the medical and healthcare sector, developments in the picture archiving and communications system ( PACS ) industry impact it the most. Technology pertaining to telemedicine, which is basically a remote data communication system, is a part of the information communication technology (ICT) industry.

The data that these communication systems dynamically acquire, process, and communicate in either half duplex or full duplex manner is medical or rather clinical data acquired through the biosensing modes. Hence, teleimaging systems are a fusion of the ICT, imaging, and healthcare industries. "Competitive pricing structure of PACS is considered a key driver for the teleimaging sector," notes the analyst of this research service. "Moreover, the increasing expectations from clinicians and experts focusing on the quality of images, and speedy, secure and efficient access have forced developers to upgrade their existing product versions or innovate and develop newer technologies, and this is considered a major driver."

As treatment costs escalate steadily, there is the need for a cost-effective solution to satisfy the immediate needs of patients. Teleimaging systems are an effective way to interact with a patient, breaking the barriers of distance and time. Patients now can discuss their problems from home and take the doctor's advice regarding adherence to further treatment protocols. It is clearly evident nowadays that real-time visual communications are being incorporated as an integral part of day-to-day communications. Patients are hoping that soon the time will come when they can pick up their phones and have a real video/audio chat with their physicians. Consulting physicians must have a high level of expertise to accurately read digital images of the patient and arrive at a diagnosis. In most countries, radiologists are required to obtain a license and undergo training to work as a teleradiologist. With many technological advancements in the filed of imaging and communications, the requirement for teleradiologists has increased significantly.

The expertise of the physician/teleradiologist is emerging as a key challenge confronting the teleimaging industry. Security issues are also clouding the industry landscape. For preserving a patients privacy and ensuring the security of the data transmitted, a major step in developing the technology platform is enabling secure solutions. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations have been implemented to ensure that data is encrypted before transmission in order to prevent any kind of hacker interception.

The teleimaging industry is taking huge strides forward with audio, video, and Web access, and data can be unified in a stand-alone monitoring system. Miniaturization of these technologies can be anticipated in the near future. The key focus of all technology developers in the teleimaging sector is to present an easy interface for patients and to capture all vital information at the point of care. Emerging wireless sensors offer patients more mobility and autonomy in home settings. Prolific growth in these teleimaging applications has empowered physicians and nurses to provide better and consistent patient care even while the patient is located outside of hospital/clinical settings.

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