MR teleradiology network serving remote imaging centers.

The operational experience of a commercial teleradiology practice utilizing a wide-area ISDN network linking six imaging centers located in two states will be reviewed. Open magnet designs were chosen to complement existing high-field units available in each community. Image data was first acquired than transmitted without compression at 128 Kbytes/s to a central reading site located in McLean, Virginia for interpretation by a team of radiologists. Average transmission time was 6-8 minutes. System design allows optimal utilization of radiologists expertise in imaging interpretation while reserving the on-site patient management responsibilities such as gadolinium contrast injections and sedation to a nonradiologists physician and/or nurse practitioner. Over 15,000 teleradiology readings have been rendered via this network by January 1998.