The potential to improve communication with referring physicians. The system is able to provide referring physicians with actual digital images of cases. Until recently, physicians had to send sketches. Now, physicians can print out before and after images on the computer to mail or send by modem. The ability to transmit images to the hospital operating room by fiberoptic cable.
Surgeons can review images while in surgery using real time dynamic imaging.
It is important to keep families informed of their children's conditions. That is why the catheterization lab also includes an observation area, which provides physicians with the space and equipment necessary to review images and data with families and patients. Increasingly, the catheterization lab is used to treat as well as diagnose heart defects. We are also studying the Amplatzer devices for large PDAs and atrial septal defects. These all are done as outpatient procedures.